Destruction of the furious elephant at Exeter Change

description below

“The death of Chunee, a large Asian elephant, kept at the Exeter Change menagerie; to the left; a group of soldiers and others, all carrying guns; some observing and others firing on Chunee to the right; who, roaring, breaks the bars of his wooden cage; blood pouring from many wounds and soaking the floor; the keeper, in shirtsleeves, stabbing the elephant with a bayonet; smoke obscuring the scene; behind; small iron-barred cages containg an agitated lion and tiger respectively; above hutches containing monkeys, one grasping the bars.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: Destruction of the furious elephant at Exeter Change [graphic] / G. Cruikshank fect.
  • Publication: London : Pubd. March 6th, 1826, by J. Harrison, 56 Long Acre, [6 March 1826]

Catalog Record

826.03.06.01+

Acquired September 2023

The valley of the shadow of death

description below

“Napoleon, advancing down a gently sloping causeway of rock which traverses water and flames, is halted by ‘Leo Britannicus’ who bounds savagely towards him. He drops a short chain attached to the nose of the ‘Russian Bear’, a huge white creature at his heels. He is beset on all sides by monsters, who emerge from a background of flame, smoke, and cloud, or from the water. Beside the British Lion is a little ‘Sicilian Terrier’, barking ferociously. Death, a skeleton-like corpse, rides a mule which dashes through the air towards Napoleon, snorting flame. He wears a Spanish hat and cloak, and holds up a flaming spear and an hour-glass whose sands have almost run out. The mule’s trappings are inscribed ‘True-Royal-Spanish-Breed’. Outstripping the mule, a savage ‘Portuguese Wolf’, with the end of a broken chain attached to his collar, leaps towards Napoleon. The heads and hulders of two melancholy French officers with their necks chained together emerge from clouds to address Napoleon; they say: “Remember Junot and Remember Dupont.” Above these is the Pope’s tiara, the apex of flames, emitting thunderbolts towards Napoleon, and inscribed ‘Dreadful Descent of ye Roman Meteor’ [cf. BMSat 10970]. Immediately above Napoleon is a crescent moon inscribed ‘British-influence’ enclosing the old (dark) moon, which is ‘French Influence’. This forms the centre of a turban, and is surrounded with fiery clouds flanking the features of the Sultan, looking fiercely down at Napoleon. Blood drips from it. This is ‘The Turkish New-Moon, Rising in Blood’. Beside it (right) the head and arms of a man raising an enormous sword above Napoleon emerge from swirling flames: The ‘Spirit of Charles ye XII’ [of Sweden 1682-1718]. On the r. a double-headed Habsburg eagle swoops towards Napoleon from clouds: “- The Imperial Eagle emerging from a Cloud.” Its collar is inscribed ‘German Eagle’. From the water beyond Napoleon’s causeway, the ‘Ditch of Styx’, project the crown and hands of the drowning ‘Rex Joseph’; he is immediately under the Spanish mule ridden by Death. The water on the nearer side of the causeway, in the foreground, is the ‘Lethean Ditch’. From this (left) rats crawl towards Napoleon: “The Rhenish Confederation of Starved Rats, crawling out of the Mud [cf. British Museum Satires No. 10433].” Three frogs raise their heads from the ditch to spit: “Dutch-Frogs spitting out their spite.” A rattle-snake spits venom, and shakes its tail: “- American Rattle-Snake shaking his Tail.-” On the right, standing on a rock, is a dilapidated eagle with clipped wings, and scanty feathers: “Prussian Scare-Crow attempting to Fly -.””–British Museum online catalogue.

 

  • Printmaker: Gillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker.
  • Title: The valley of the shadow of death [graphic] / Js. Gillray invt. & ft.
  • Publication: [London] : Publish’d Septr. 24th, 1808, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James’s Street, London, [24 September 1808]

Catalog Record

808.09.24.01+

Acquired January 2020

The exile restored, or, The spies, spawns & spewers of scurrility

description below

“Stoddart sits in the centre of the design blowing through a trumpet a blast of abuse towards the newly-arrived Queen (left) while holding out copies of his newspaper towards four ragged little newsboys (right), who also blow their horns with great vigour. Queen Caroline, tall, dignified, and demurely dressed in black, flinches from Stoddart’s blast, and is protected by Britannia and Alderman Wood. She says: “Surely thos Fellows will not be suffered to Insult me in this manner? who is it that Sets them on? who encourages them.” Britannia, seated on a very angry Lion, extends her arms, saying: “Welcome Beloved of thy People, the Mother of Englands lost — & ever to be lamented Hope, will ever be dear to the Hearts of every true born Englishman.” Wood, wearing an Alderman’s gown, tries to protect her with a shield inscribed: ‘No more Douglas’s an Englishman’s Rights, Justice & Truth’. From Stoddart’s trumpet issue the words: ‘Treason, Crim Con, no Rights, no Claims, no pretensions, no Prerogatives, no Patronage, no Property, no Soul to be Prayed for, no Justice, no Law, no Protection, Woe to them that espouse her Cause, Woe to them that Speak well of her!!!’ At his feet lie newspapers: ‘New Times’, ‘Morning Post’, ‘Courier’. Castlereagh and Sidmouth (right), who extend admonitory fingers, urge him on: the former says: “hit hard–dont spare now Dr Slop here is a fine Oppertunity for you to indulge your Spleen.” Sidmouth, larger than life and shockingly malevolent, says: “Blow away my boys, spread it far and near, lay it on thick, do not stand for Trifles!!!” The biggest newsboy has a bill headed ‘New Times’ in his hat; another holds a bundle of the ‘Courier’, ‘New Times’, and ‘[Morning] Post’. A third has ‘News’ in his hat. Behind and between Stoddart and Castlereagh a man capers in ecstasy, waving a hat in which is a paper: ‘Pardon for Edwards’. He exclaims: “Now I shall have a Job again and get better paid than before.””–British Museum online catalogue.

 

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: The exile restored, or, The spies, spawns & spewers of scurrility, abuse & defamation set to work [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. June 8th, 1820, by S.W. Fores, 41 Picadilli [sic], [8 June 1820]

Catalog Record

820.06.08.01+

Acquired November 2020