“The Regent, scarcely caricatured, rides (right to left) a white horse with the (bloated) head of Sheridan, the flank being branded ‘P R’. The horse walks along a cobbled street which is strewn with large stones on each of which is the head of a member of the Opposition. Sheridan says: “Never fear, my dear Master, I will carry you through this ugly road in safety–I’ll hick all the vile stones aside that would impede your way, and your old Hack, Sherry, you will find able to support you to the last.” On the stone under his hoof is the head of Grenville. Two others have already been kicked aside: (?) Holland, and, in the foreground, the Duke of Norfolk. Others (left to right) are: Buckingham (in spectacles) and Whitbread, Grey, Lord Temple, Moira, and Erskine. Others are not characterized. The street leads into ‘Manchester Square’, showing that the Prince is on his way to Hertford House.”–British Museum online catalogue.
- Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
- Title: The regent’s hack [graphic].
- Publication: [London] : Pubd. March 1812 by Wm. Holland, No. 11 Cockspur Street, [March 1812]
812.03.00.02+ Impression 1
Acquired September 2023
A copy in reverse of William Hogarth’s Plate 1 of A harlot’s progress: A scene outside the Bell Inn: a country girl, Moll Hackabout, having just arrived on the York Wagon (seen on the right), meets an extravagantly dressed bawd (Mother Needham); a clergyman on horseback fails to notice the encounter, but a lecherous old gentleman (Colonel Charteris) eyes the girl with anticipation. In the lower left the girl’s initials “H.M.” (M[ary?] Hackabout, initials reversed on this copy) are on her portmanteau, next to which is a basket with a goose with a note around its neck, “For my Loving Cosen in Tems Stret in London”, presumably the person who has failed to meet her. In the background a woman hangs out her laundry on a balcony. A clergyman on horseback fails to notice the encounter as his horse feeds on hay next to the wagon. In the back of the wagon, four other country girls sit holding onto a rail.
A view of the interior of a riding-school: A number of men riding round in a circle; those in the foreground ride from right to left, those in the background from left to right. The riding-master stands in the centre, pointing with hand and cane, and grinning at a short fat man in a clerical wig who is running across the room, alarmed at the horses. A short obese man in back-view on the extreme right, who is about to mount his horse has been identified as Captain Grose. Next him is a man with a grotesque impression of alarm riding a plunging horse. Among the riders are two with clerical wigs. One horse is galloping, out of control, the others are quietly ambling round. Two sides of a high rectangular room or hall are visible; in each wall are two high arch-topped windows.