“Eldon stands with his shirt-sleeves rolled up, carrying a great stack of petitions under each arm. On his head is a porter’s knot made of a pair of green bags (emblem of ‘Old Bags’, see British Museum Satires No. 12883); on this rests a third pile of bulky parchments. Round his right leg is an unfastened garter inscribed ‘. . . d Expects Every Man will do’ [his duty]. He puffs; sweat streams down his forehead; he says: ‘Hard work this–got plenty more to bring down yet–.’ The petitions are inscribed ‘Petition’ [five times]; ‘against Concession’ [twice]; ‘Petition against’; ‘30.000 Inhabitants’; ‘Humbly Sheweth’; ‘Petition against Concession–‘ [twice] ‘3.00 Inhabitants’; ‘4000 of the . . .’; ‘signed by 130.000 Men Women & Children ; 60,000 Respectable Inhabitants’.”–British Museum online catalogue
- Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
- Title: A labourer in the good cause [graphic] / [man with umbrella] Esqr.
- Publication: [London] : Pub. by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, [approximately March 1828]
828.03.00.01+
Acquired June 2024
Wow, this print is really something! The detail is incredible, and it’s amazing to see what people were petitioning about back then. Super interesting piece of history!