Tag Archives: Banquets

Polly & Lucy takeing off the restrictions

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“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.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: Polly & Lucy takeing off the restrictions [graphic] : vide Beggars opera / G. Cruikshank sulp.
  • Publication: [London] : Published March 1812 by J. Jonhston, 98 Cheapside, [March 1812]

Catalog Record

812.03.00.03+

Acquired February 2024

A prospect of the inside of Westminster Hall

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“Interior of Westminster Hall depicting the banquet following the coronation of James II.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Title: A prospect of the inside of Westminster Hall, shewing how the King and Queen with the nobility and other did sit at dinner on the day of the coronation [graphic] : also the manner of the Champions performing the Ceremony of Challenge whilst the King &c. were at dinner. The whole taken from Sandford.
  • Publication: [London] : Printed for T. Bowles in St. Pauls Church Yard, & John Bowles & Son at the Black Horse in Cornhil, [between 1752 and 1764]

Catalog Record

752.00.00.24

Acquired September 2019

The Devils doings

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“The Devil (right), in the foreground and much larger than the other figures, stands Asmodeus-like on a house-top (cf. British Museum Satires No. 16160), overturning with a long pole a dinner-table and upsetting the guests who fall on clouds of Dust. He is a grotesque muscular creature with goat’s legs, barbed wings and tail, and looks round with a triumphant grin at the spectator. The guests are also assailed by harpies, little winged men, whose bodies terminate in barbed and scaly tails. One of these (Corder), holding a long bill which rises into the air above him, assails a man (Roach) mounted on a cockroach and holding up a book inscribed Parish Acct; he is The Grand Carver mounted on his Cockroach.; from the cockroach’s antennae hang two big keys, and it emits a tail-blast inscribed We are of the Select, against his assailant. The latter holds out a paper inscribed Majority 7 and says am I not the Elect. Another harpy holding out a constable’s staff flies menacingly towards the cockroach, saying, By St Thomas I cheque this. Roach exclaims: I tell you it’s all a farce so we have taken the liberty to Cribb the Books Keep the Keys tight Cockey. A third harpy threatens the feast with a pair of spurred cavalry boots, saying you will Do-Well to give in, showing he is T. W. Dow (a boot-maker of York Street, Covent Garden. P.O. London Directory, 1822), see British Museum Satires No. 15528. A fourth has seized a paunchy Vestryman by the nose; the victim screams Oh my Nose–Rose Water rose water–oh oh oh– From the table fall birds, hare, tureen, decanter, pineapple, &c. The dust forms a background, and is inscribed Dust for the Eyes of the Parishioners; looming through it is the façade of St. Paul’s, Covent Garden. The bill held by Corder is headed Dinners. The items are Richardson £8-5, Hodgson & Gan £47-11-0, wine 5. 3. 0. Hodgson & Gan[n] Venison feast 30. 3- 6–Dinner on auditing Accounts £11- 4- 0, Hodg & Gann Ditto £40 4-0, Richardson Visitation Din . . £22. 7. 6, Joys St Thomas Day Dinner £20-10-0—&c &c.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: The Devils doings, or, The cruel radical harpies destroying a feast [graphic] / [man with an umbrella] Eqs. de.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket …, [April 1828]

Catalog Record

828.04.00.02+

Acquired October 2018