A detailed estate inventory on ruled paper and entered in ledger form; with rental properties and the names of tenants, rents, and valuations.
LWL Mss File 126
Acquired January 2015
“John Bull, grossly obese, sits in an armchair directed to the right, smoking and holding a goblet inscribed ‘For the Belly’ in his left hand. His paunch overweights his legs; from below it projects a bunch of four big seals, shaped like mitres, two inscribed ‘Dublin’ and ‘Armagh’. These dangle against his left leg which is bare except for a tattered green cloth and rests on straw. On the other leg, which has gouty misshapen toes, are a neat stocking and shoe. From the left foot rise the words: ‘Arrah, now Mr Belly don’t be after thinking I’m satisfied–if all the rest are, Och! bother your talk, about dispersing the good things you receive sure none of them come towards me lower than your watch chain: have’nt I been neglected, Och, its withering I am–& tho’ some of your bowels yearn over me & say I might be cured, don’t part of your hard heart wish me Cut down to the bare bone–but Oh, honey if you get into a row, won’t you do better with two stout legs than only one of them–.’ John stares down towards the bare toe, which is only just in his range of vision; his words are in the cloud of smoke issuing from his pipe: ‘Never mind my poor little limb,–as to the belly Clothed in scarlet & fine lawn I smoke its selfishness, & as its head & Governor will see you righted.'”–British Museum online catalogue.
829.00.00.109
Acquired January 2015