Townsend the umpire of love

description below

“Townsend, the Bow Street Officer, holding up his constable’s staff, chases a man away from a country house, a corner of which appears on the right. A third man, Wellesley-Pole, shelters behind the constable, stretching out his arms towards his fleeing rival; he turns his head to listen to a pretty young woman who stands on a small iron balcony immediately behind him, with an open sash-window behind her. She says: “Risk not thy Precious life my Love in bold encounter with that dareing Scott.” He answers: “no no my dear I’ll shelter me behind the arm of Justice, & hunt him from his Scent by one of the most famous Bull Dogs in the Kingdom, & teach him never never to Dare to woo the [sic] from my Longing Arms Oh thou Golden Angel.” A paper inscribed ‘Scot’ projects from the fugitive’s pocket. Townsend says: “I’ll teach you worsted working rascall to dare to set up in opposition to the Irish Secretary D-n your Impudence.” A signpost points (left) to ‘Norwhich’ and (right) ‘To Chippenham’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: Townsend the umpire of love, or, The Poled Scott hunted off after a long struggle [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. Jan. 7, 1812, by S.W. Fores, 50 Picadilli [sic], [7 January 1812]

Catalog Record

812.01.07.01

Acquired February 2022

Out of court

description below

“Lady Conyngham chases Eldon from the royal precincts; she threatens him with the sceptre and a clenched fist, saying, Je le veut [sic]. She is décolletée, much bejewelled, and displays an elephantine leg and tiny foot. Close behind her stands Knighton, a pen behind his ear, his arm raised; he has just flung a massive gold inkpot decorated with the Royal Arms; ink falls on Eldon’s head. He says: take that, & that, & that, le Roy le veut. ‘Roy’ is scored through. Canning stands behind impassively, hand on hip, holding up a cross, and saying In hoc Signo vinces [Constantine’s miraculous vision: cf. British Museum Satires No. 15385]. The building behind is ornate and Gothic, more elaborate than the actual Cottage. The King’s head (out of scale with the building) is framed in a small casement window; with an equivocal expression he looks towards Eldon, saying, Necessitas non habet leges. Eldon has dropped the Mace and the Purse of the Great Seal; he says: Had I served my God with half the Zeal I have served my King, he would not have suffered me to be turned out for supporting his Cause.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, Henry, active 1824-1850, printmaker.
  • Title: Out of court [graphic] : auspicium melioris devi / H.H. fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. April 21, 1827, by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly, London, [21 April 1827]

Catalog Record

827.04.21.01

Acquired July 2021