A man stands in a room holding a caduceus decorated comic mask, saying ”When I do stare, see how the subjects quacke’.” He is surrounded with bills and a bag of coins on the table, both suggesting corruption. At sign hanging from the table reads “Alexandrian Memorial, A loss is no benefit. No committee.” Below on the floor, another discarded scroll reads “Rejected with prejudice.” At his foot is an animal (a fox?) holding a sign “Designs [ca]refully copied, civilly returned, and he carries in his hand a piece of paper “I perceive the trick & will avoid the cheat. Na-th.” Behind him hangs a sign, “The exact-u-trick is safe or 22d Sept.” On the wall is a picture of the facade of a theater. Probably a satire on an unidentified theater manager.
- Title: New drop scene, or, A managerial puff!! – Cunning Isaac! [graphic].
- Publication: [London?] : [publisher not identified], [approximately 1810?]
810.00.00.85
Acquired September 2023
“Mrs. Clarke auctions commissions from a rostrum to a crowd of bidders, while the Duke of York acts as her clerk. All are unconscious of a net in which they are enclosed, and with which the Devil flies off into flames (right). Mrs. Clarke (right), in profile to the left, with raised hammer, holds out a paper headed Commission. She says: Going for no more than £500 a Commission Positively worth 5000. An officer, probably Dowler, see British Museum satires no. 11253, holds out his arms towards her, saying, my dear dear dear Angel Knock it down to me or I am ruin’d. Another says: Let the good Bishop [the Duke, see British Museum satires no. 11227] have the Game & we my Boy will have the Cream. The other applicants are in civilian dress; one says to the bidder: my dear fellow dont be so anxious for depend upon it these tricks will be Found out & all will be Lost. The Duke of York, in uniform, records the bids in a book, his pen resting on the figure 500. He says Thus am I content to record & ratify the Destruction of the Army, my Country & myself, rather than loose my dear DARLING to [cf. British Museum satires no. 11228]. The Devil looks over his shoulder at Mrs. Clarke to say with a baleful grin: Going, Going Gon you may now say, for I have You tight enough my dear Honey.”–British Museum online catalogue.
