A full-length portrait of a man wearing a long jacket and hat. The outlines of his body and clothing are cut from a single sheet and defined using a pinpricks, with watercolor additions to the jacket and hat. The man’s face, the bag of money he holds, and the platform he stands on are drawn entirely in watercolor on the mount
Drawings Un58 no.101
Acquired November 2024
“The Green Bag, see British Museum Satires No. 13735, &c., is transformed into a hillock covered with grass and foliage, but keeping the contour of a sack; it is inscribed in large letters: ‘Commons Green Bag‘. On the left it is watched by a group of Ministers, on the right by the Queen and her supporters. The foremost of the latter is Brougham, in wig and gown, who points a rod inscribed ‘Queens Attorney General’ towards the bag; a mouse crouches in a little hollow at its base. Under his arm is a large document inscribed ‘Resolution ….. [Ma]jesty’. The Queen, her hands extended towards him, turns to a second barrister who stands in back-view, saying, “I should make a brave Queen to be frightened at a Mouse.” The barrister, Denman, the Queen’s Solicitor-General, answers: “A good Conscience is a Wall of Brass, your Majesty will not shrink at a Royal Tiger.” On the extreme right, Wood, in an alderman’s gown, is speaking to a lady, evidently Lady Ann Hamilton. On the extreme left is a curtain from behind which the King, his head and most of his person being hidden, speaks to Lord Eldon (who like his colleagues is gaping at the bag-mountain): “Why Bags! what’s all this!” Eldon, in wig and gown, holding a large document and the Purse of the Great Seal, answers: “The Cat’s out of the Bag Sire thats all.” Canning exclaims: “Pro-di-gi-ous! as my Friend Domine Sampson [in Scott’s ‘Guy Mannering’, 1815] says!” Castlereagh, very scared, says to Sidmouth: “Doctor could you not prevented [sic] this untimely Birth!” Sidmouth stoops forward, squirting a clyster-pipe at the mouse; in his right hand, like a doctor’s gold-headed cane, is a constable’s staff. He exclaims: “A Delivery without Nurse or Doctor by Heaven.” From his pocket hangs a paper: ‘Foreign Circular’ [cf. British Museum Satires No. 13282]. After the title: ‘When mountains cry out, people may well be excused the apprehension of some prodigious Birth, this was the case the Public were all at their wits end, to consider what would be the Issue, and instead of the dreadfull Monster that they expected, out comes at last a contemptible Mouse–The Moral. Much ado about Nothing.– Reflection. What are all the extravagant attempts and enterprises of weak Men, but morals more or less of this Fable what are mighty pretences without consideration or effect, but the vapours of a distemper, that like sickly Dreams have neither issue nor conection. and the dissapointment is not all neither, for men make themselves ridiculous instead of Terrible, when this Tympany shall come to end in a Blast, and a Mountain to bring forth a Mouse, vide L’Estrange’s Esop.–‘.”–British Museum online catalogue.
820.06.28.01+
Acquired June 2024
“A dandy (cf. British Museum Satires No. 13029), with a handsome profile, wearing knee-breeches, advances with a mincing step and outstretched hands towards an ugly farmer who stands facing him with a large stick and wearing top-boots and broad-brimmed hat. The tenant holds a money-bag and is fiercely prognathous. The landlord: “My dear Sir–I am rejoiced to see you–I hope your lovely family are well–You are a charming Man–correct in every point–in short your countenance is an index to your mind.” The farmer: “You certainly are flattering me–here is your Rent.–as to my family–thanks to the Lord, my Wife, and all the brats, be gone to kingdome come.” There is a carpeted floor.”–British Museum online catalogue
817.00.00.25+
Acquired June 2024
“Brougham, seated in profile to the right in a chair inscribed Place, makes a bonfire on the floor of documents and his Old Stuff gown. This he holds over the flames on a levelled broomstick, the broom being inscribed Treasury Broom. Under one foot is a paper inscribed Opposition. He says: I think I shall cut a dash with my new gown; so here goes for the old one–Silk against Stuff for any money. But this worn out concern stinks most damnably: tis true, a great deal of dirty work has been done in it and it was only stuff at first:–it now emits more smoke than flame; yet I can distinguish a magic picture through this volume of vapour. O, glorious precedence! “Tam venerabile erat praecedere” Juvl. The burning papers are: March of Intellect [see British Museum Satires No. 15178], Liberty [of the] Pres[s], Blacks, Catholic Emancipation, Mulatoes, Reform. The smoke from the fire is inscribed Independence, Patriotism, Public Charities, Vapour, Retrenchment. Behind him (left) his new gown hangs on a stand made of an upright which supports his new wig, and a cross-bar inscribed Treasury. The gown is Patent New Silk. Partly concealed by the smoke is the ‘magic picture’: Anticipation; the Purse of the Great Seal suspended above mace and sword. Below the picture is a big bag stuffed with Briefs.”–British Museum online catalogue.
827.06.18.02+
Acquired June 2024
“Brougham, in wig and gown, stands in Old Square, Lincolns Inn, the roof of the Hall, which forms a background, being so inscribed; houses are on the right. He carries on his head, which is in profile to the right, a tray, inscribed London College; this supports a neo-Gothic building with pinnacles and a clock-tower; tiny trees and figures in academic dress round the building show the scale. From its four corners rise labels inscribed in large letters, Etymology, Orthography, Prosody, Syntax. He says Who’I buy? very cheap, very free. From one shoulder hangs a brief-bag inscribed Subscriptions; from the other a ribbon supporting a handsomely bound book: List of Share Holders. Round his waist is a hoop which also encircles the waists of five little puppets: a man in archaic court-dress, holding a feathered hat, next a stout lady holding a fan and a large purse (? the Duke of St. Albans (as Falconer) and Mrs. Coutts, cf. British Museum Satires No. 14875), a fashionably dressed man in top-hat and furred and frogged coat, and Lord Eldon holding the mace and the Purse of the Great Seal. On the ground is a toy horse on wheels ridden by a yokel in a smock.”–British Museum online catalogue
825.07.00.06
Acquired June 2024
“Canning (left), in a court suit with bag-wig and sword, stands outside the door of the Treasury completing a bargain with Brougham. The latter is dressed as a German broom-girl as in British Museum Satires No. 14769, &c, with legal bands and a little cap perched on his barrister’s wig, and very clumsy legs and feet. He has handed Canning his broom and takes in return a bag of Gold; his new silk gown is in his left hand. Canning says: Here’s Money, and a hansome [sic] Silken Gown. Brougham watches Canning with a penetrating appraising smile; he answers: For my Proom, I could not take mush less.”–British Museum online catalogue
Artist: Cruikshank, Robert, 1789-1856, printmaker
Title: The broom sold!!!
Production: London: July 1827 by T. McLean, Hay-Market
827.07.00.04+
Acquired June 2024
“Mrs. Coutts (right), fat, swarthy, and moustached, sits at a table, holding out a cheque for £100.000 to Lord Burford. Her Cheque Book lies on the table. He steps forward, hat in hand, left hand on breast, in profile to the right. She says: Why you seem to be a good looking hard working young fellow, but I must tell you my business is extensive And I shall expect you will employ your time day and night for the benefit of the Concern, you must also be humble and submissive, should this be realized on Trial I will make you a Sleeping Partner. And here’s a trifle for you to buy a pair of gloves. He answers with eager deference: You may depend upon it Madam I shall endeavour to give you every satisfaction. I shall be very attentive and if I can’t get through the business as you like, you are at liberty to employ an Assistant. Mrs. Coutts is décolletée and bejewelled, wearing a turban trimmed with a paradise-plume. The gold-bordered tablecloth is weighted with balls inscribed £20,000 and £9,000. Large money-bags are on the floor behind her: £800,000 and . . . 000. Under her chair are a glass and a decanter of White Tape. Behind her is a picture of heaped sovereigns and money-bags. Other pictures are a cow looking over the wall of Mrs C–s Dairy, and (left) a castle: View near St Albans. The chairs are decorated with coins pouring from cornucopias.”–British Museum online catalogue.
825.03.00.02+
Acquired June 2024
“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
828.03.00.01+
Acquired June 2024
“The Regent, as Macheath, wearing military uniform and heavily shackled, stands between Mrs. Fitzherbert, who kneels at his feet (left) removing his leg-irons, and Lady Hertford (right), who stands beside him taking the fetters from his wrists (inscribed ‘Restri[ctions]’), He sings “How happy could I be with either.” Mrs. Fitzherbert, a long rosary dangling from her waist, says: “The Benediction of His Holiness light on the Defender of Our Faith.” Lady Hertford, sultana-like in a jewelled turban, says: “You heard of the Row & the Rowly Powly Song before Our house the Other Night?!!” Behind and on the right Eldon stands full-face between Perceval and McMahon, who face each other in profile. Perceval, in his Chancellor of the Exchequer’s gown, and holding a brief-bag, says: “The Greys won’t move without their own Coachman tho the Brewer [Whitbread] has offerd his black to do the dirty Work.” Eldon, in a huge wig, holds the Purse of the Great Seal; he says: “We must hire Jobs for the Night Work but we are Pro’ Rogued.” McMahon, in military uniform, has a number of ribbons and stars hanging over his arm; he says: “These Garters & Ribbonds are all returned.” On the wall are two pictures: George Hanger, bestriding his pony (as in No. 8889) with a burly bailiff seated behind him, rides in the direction of a sign-post, with a noose hanging from it, pointing ‘To the Kings Bench’. This is ‘George & his Hanger On, takeing a ride together to a Lodging in Surry’. The other is Sheridan as Bacchus, but dressed as Harlequin (cf. British Museum Satires No. 9916), bestriding a cask of ‘Old Sherry’.”–British Museum online catalogue.
812.03.00.03+
Acquired February 2024
“Eldon as a street-beggar kneels on both knees on straw placed on paving-stones, wearing a cap resembling those worn by butchers and the rags of a Chancellor’s gown over tattered breeches. He supports himself by a staff, and holds out his short powdered wig. Beside him (left) lies an empty and dilapidated bag inscribed The Old Bagg [cf. British Museum Satires No. 12883]. He looks down with a gloomy scowl, and from his closed lips rise the words: Pity the sorrows of a poor old man [cf. British Museum Satires Nos. 13991, 16236]–vide beggars petition, Tricked out of Work by a Soldier. Round his neck is tied a placard reaching below the waist, and inscribed: Pity a poor Old Man out of Place, at the age of 78 [76], and though extremely anxious, for employment, disappointed in, all his expectations of procuring the Same. His pension is only 4.000 P A [cf. British Museum Satires No. 10714] and not a Dinner has been dressed in his house within the memory of man! He has a wife to support, and a Son to provide for, who holds only Eight Appointments! Beside him an emaciated dog stands on its hindlegs holding a begging-dish, with a piteous expression.”–British Museum online catalogue.
828.01.00.06+
Acquired May 2023