Record of the poor rate collections, disbursements and expenses for the village of Smallburgh in the County of Norfolk over a period of 60 years. Written in multiple hands, mostly in ink, and signed by the town officials.
Folio LWL Mss vol. 271
Acquired February 2022
“Townsend, the Bow Street Officer, holding up his constable’s staff, chases a man away from a country house, a corner of which appears on the right. A third man, Wellesley-Pole, shelters behind the constable, stretching out his arms towards his fleeing rival; he turns his head to listen to a pretty young woman who stands on a small iron balcony immediately behind him, with an open sash-window behind her. She says: “Risk not thy Precious life my Love in bold encounter with that dareing Scott.” He answers: “no no my dear I’ll shelter me behind the arm of Justice, & hunt him from his Scent by one of the most famous Bull Dogs in the Kingdom, & teach him never never to Dare to woo the [sic] from my Longing Arms Oh thou Golden Angel.” A paper inscribed ‘Scot’ projects from the fugitive’s pocket. Townsend says: “I’ll teach you worsted working rascall to dare to set up in opposition to the Irish Secretary D-n your Impudence.” A signpost points (left) to ‘Norwhich’ and (right) ‘To Chippenham’.”–British Museum online catalogue.
812.01.07.01
Acquired February 2022
“Portrait of George Townshend standing three-quarter length slightly to left and leaning his right elbow on pedestal beside curtain, eyes to front, wearing uniform, his own hair curled, holding paper in his right hand labelled ‘A Bill Intituled, An Act for the Better Order of the Militia Forces.”–British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier state.
Portraits T753G no.2
Acquired June 2021
A scene beside a river: In the foreground two men who had been fishing have been pulled into the river by the rope attached to a ferry that is crossing to the other side when the horse that is pulling it bolts down stream. A third man is about to fall into the water as well as a fourth companion chases the runaway horse and his owner.
824.00.00.11 Impression 2
Acquired July 2020
In an outdoor setting, Lord North and Edmund Burke look down at Charles Fox who stands knee-deep in a hole in the ground. All are in mourning clothes. Fox expresses fear of remaining in “this terrible Pitt” forever. An angry North, stamping his foot, expresses disillusionment in their coalition, while a quiet Burke decides to disassociate himself from Fox.
784.03.19.01 Impression 3
Acquired July 2021
“Thomas Coke of Norfolk leads his bride through a pastoral landscape; he prances gaily along hat in hand, turning to look at her, and singing, Oh the Days when I was Young; in his left hand is a book: Coke upon Littleton [see British Museum Satires No. 14423]. She takes his left arm, holding back the gauze veil that floats from a bonnet trimmed with flowers and towering feathers. Her tight-waisted pelisse has a deep crimson border. She is gravely demure, but sings: Of all the Gay Lads that Dance on the Green, Old Tommys the Lad for Me. He looks younger than 67, she older than 18. Behind them (right) is a country church, before them a signpost pointing To the Breeding Park and To the Nursery. An old ram branded C approaches a sheep; a French greyhound prances towards a decrepit and shaggy dog.”–British Museum online catalogue.
822.03.26.01+
Acquired May 2021
“Two tiers of single English figures expressing appropriate opinions about the coronation of Napoleon.”–British Museum online catalogue.
804.07.16.03+
Acquired November 2020
“A front elevation of a theatre-box crammed with delighted children fills the design. In the front row are a lady and four little girls. In the middle sits the father, one small boy on his knee, an arm round another child. Eight more children fill the box. Behind them a lady chooses fruit from an old woman’s basket. Two men stand behind. Over the front of the box hangs a playbill: During the Xmas Holidays–Pantomime of Harliquin–Clown by Mr G [Grimaldi].”–British Museum online catalogue.
826.12.26.01
Acquired November 2020
An old woman, the prude, is standing near a crowd of people huddled around a bonfire in Covent Garden. She is crossing Covent Garden Piazza, disapproving of the amorous scenes outside the notorious Tom King’s Coffee House. The print shows the morning and is part of a series representing the progress of the day.
Hogarth 797.08.01.01++ Box 310
Acquired January 2021
The third print in the series “Four Times of the Day” is set at Sadler’s Wells. “A dyer and his wife walking with their dog beside the New River; the wife holds a fan with a design of Aphrodite and Adonis, the husband carries a small child, a somewhat older boy stands behind them in tears because his sister is demanding the gingerbread figure he holds; behind them is a young woman holding a shoe and a cow being milked by another woman; to the right is a tavern with the sign of Sir Hugh Middleton’s Head, two women and a man are in the tavern garden, other figures are visible through the window, and a grape vine is climbing up towards the roof.”–British Museum online catalogue.
Hogarth 797.12.01.01++ Box 310
Acquired January 2021