“Scene in a bedroom, meanly furnished except for a four-post curtained bed (left) and a carpeted floor; it is lit by a single candle or rush-light. Lady Eldon (right), a lean and ugly virago, assails the ex-Chancellor with a shovel, holding him by the coat. He tries to escape, shrieking, I cou’dn’t in conscience my love, act with them–why, they are all in league with the Devil. Lady Eldon: Conscience, indeed! I’ll conscience you! Aye, aye, Sir, you don’t know your friends from your foes. I’ll make you learn to keep a good place when you’ve got one; you shan’t be idling at home earning nothing. What business is it of your’s who’s who as long as you have got a good place and are well paid for it. Under the bed is a box of Smuggled Goods. On the wall is a picture: Taking leave of the Court of Conscience. In this Eldon leans from a desk holding a handkerchief towards his eyes, facing a group of standing barristers. On the floor is a book: Rule a Husband and have a Husband [parodying the title of Fletcher’s comedy, ‘Rule a wife …].”–British Museum online catalogue
- Printmaker: Phillips, John, active 1825-1831, printmaker.
- Title: Bags out of place, or, A new administration [graphic] / Phillips fect.
- Publication: [London] : Published by E. King, Chancery Lane, [approximately April 1827]
827.04.00.03+
Acquired June 2024
Three men sit by a supper-table, a grandfather-clock behind them points to XI. The man on the left is having his jack-boots pulled off by a small boy; the boy stands astride his right leg pulling hard, his back to the man, who is scowling and pushes his other booted foot against the boy’s back; on the floor are a pair of spurs, a pair of slippers, and a boot-jack. A man (right) wearing a night-cap, but otherwise completely dressed and wearing spurred boots, leans one elbow on the table, his face contorted as if in pain, he holds his hand to his thigh. On the table beside him is a small packet inscribed “Diaculum”. In the centre, and on the farther side of the table, the third man leans both elbows on the table, his hair is tousled and his eyes are shut. A servant behind, yawning, is carrying off a square box, probably a wig-box, while a maidservant stands on the right, a candle in one hand, a warming-pan in the other, watching with amusement the efforts of the boy to pull off the boot. Three hats hang on the wall; a bottle, a plate, three wine-glasses, and a guttering candle, burnt down to the socket, stand on the table. See related image in the British Museum catalogue.