“Heading to a broadside printed in two columns. The King, a bloated and whiskered infant, sleeps in a cradle, rocked by Sidmouth (right), a lean old woman wearing a cap and bag-wig, who sits in a rocking-chair, his clyster-pipe (cf. British Museum Satires No. 9849) on the ground. The cradle is surmounted by a pagoda with bells, and ornamented by two large crocodiles, representing the Chinese dragons of the Pavilion, cf. British Museum Satires No. 12749. On it are also a sun, with a fool’s cap in its disk, between crescent moons. Round the cradle lie toys: soldiers, mounted lancers, &c., on wheels, a cannon, a sceptre, a crown with a toy windmill stuck in it. With these are papers: ‘Divorce’; ‘Protocal’ [sic]; ‘Send her to Hell’. The infant holds a coral and bells and a corkscrew. Castlereagh sits over the fire warming a napkin. Canning (see British Museum Satires No. 13737) walks off to the left, disgustedly carrying the pan of a commode decorated with a crown and ‘G.R.’ On the chimneypiece are pap-boat, bottle of ‘Dolby’s Carminative, &c’. (Dolby was a radical bookseller, ‘Dalby’s carminative’ a well-known remedy for infants). A large ‘Green Bag’ hangs on the wall. In a doorway behind Sidmouth, inscribed ‘French Dolls’, stand two young women, in evening dress, stiff and impassive.”–British Museum online catalogue.
- Printmaker: Cruikshank, Robert, 1789-1856, printmaker.
- Title: The cradle hymn [graphic] : new version / I.R. Cruikshank fecit.
- Publication: [London] : Published by T. Dolby, 299, Strand, and 34, Wardour Street, Soho, [ca. July 1820]
820.07.00.01
Acquired November 2021
An illustrated broadside with text describing in detail the ceremonies and events around the funeral and burial of Queen Caroline from Monday 13th August as her body lay in state at Brandenburgh House, through the early afternoon interment in Brunswick on 25th August. The broadside records the argument between Sir George Naylor and Mr. Bailey who had assigned responsibility for the events by the George IV and the Caroline’s executor Dr. Lushington. The official route attempted to negate the threat of violence from a mob by steering it away from the city center. However, a mob blocked the cortege’s path forcing it to re-route through the city. Chaos erupted and soldiers opened fire killing two men and other injuries. The internment was precided over by J.W. Wolff who said a prayer in German, a translation of which is included in the text of the broadside.
The coffin of Queen Caroline on a cloth-covered platform over which pallbearers hold an elaborate black canopy is carried down the aisle of church, followed by a minister who lifts his right arm as if speaking from the text in his left hand. To the right stand young women who throw flowers from their baskets as the procession passes. On the right, with an organ behind, soldiers stand in attention holding torches.