A cat is hanging from a tree outside St Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics in Old Street, London, condemned by a man dressed as a Quaker, with a tartan cloak. The on-lookers call him a ‘Merry Andrew’ (i.e. a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior), believing him to be a resident of the building behind (renamed St Andrew’s). The Quaker has a number of petitions and bills under his arm. Between 1830 and 1847 the M.P. for Wigtownshire, Sir Andrew Agnew, introduced four bills to the House of Commons attempting to enforce the better Observance of the Sabbath. On his third attempt Charles Dickens wrote ‘Sunday Under Three Heads’ (1836), a personal attack on Agnew, whom he described as a fanatic, motivated by resentment of the idea that those poorer than himself might have any pleasure in life. Agnew left Parliament in 1837, ending the campaign.

• Printmaker: Grant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, printmaker.
  
• Title: The modern Puritan [graphic] : hanging a cat on a Monday for killing a mouse on a Sunday!!! / C.J. Grant.
  
• Published: London : Pubd. by G. Tregear, 123 Cheapside, April 1833.

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

833.04.00.02+

Acquired September 2014