Tag Archives: William IV

When two ride upon one horse one must ride behind

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“William IV rides (left to right) on a country road, with a large document under his arm: ‘Plan Bridge over Canal for Public’; Wellington sits insecurely behind the saddle. Both are in civilian dress. The King: ‘Now I’ve got him up behind I’ll just do as I like’. Wellington (slyly): ‘This is a very bad Seat, not such a one as I have been used to lately. I am afraid I shall be off.–Open the Park indeed for the Public: I don’t like giving way to the Public!!!’ A signpost (left) points (right) ‘To Holland House’.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, Henry, active 1824-1850, printmaker.
  • Title: When two ride upon one horse one must ride behind [graphic]/H. Heath fect.
  • Publication: [London] : Published 1830 by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly, London, [approximately July 1830]

Catalog Record

830.07.00.03+

Acquired September 2023

All among the Hottentots – capering a shore

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King William IV dressed as a sailor dances in the centre of a semicircle of ministers who have black bodies and are partially draped. Among the ministers are Peel and Scarlett on the left, Lyndhurst and Wellington on the right both of whom wear nose-rings. Scarlett encircles Ellenborough, who, with Sugden, is behind the King. Their tribal dance celebration alludes to the relief that the ministers must have felt to be able to retain their positions with the new reign. William IV was a popular King and a stark contrast to George IV and was liable to wild bursts of passion as is suggested here. He and the Duke of Wellington (then prime minister) got on very well, hence the retainment of his ministers. He is dressed in sailor garb in reference to his years in the navy. The tribal dress of the ministers refers to the far-flung shores that William visited.

  • Printmaker: Heath, William, 1795-1840, printmaker.
  • Title: All among the Hottentots – capering a shore [graphic] / W. Heath.
  • Publication: [London] : Pub. July 19, 1830, by T. McLean, 26 Haymarket, [19 July 1830]

Catalog Record

830.07.19.01+

Acquired May 2023

The great general frightened by Don Key

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Wellington takes a flying stride from a braying ass (right) with tail erect and its feet firmly planted. His hair rises, his top-hat falls off, and he looks behind him to say: ‘Oh save me, save, Bob, run tell the King!’ The donkey (Key) brays ‘fe . fa . fum’. It wears a heavy chain and is draped by a furred livery gown marked with the City Arms.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heath, Henry, active 1824-1850, printmaker.
  • Title: The great general frightened by Don Key [graphic] / H. Heath fe.
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. 1830 by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly, [November 1830]

Catalog Record

830.11.00.02+

Acquired March 2020

Public and private life of that celebrated actress Miss Bland…

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At head of title: The great illegitimates!!

Frontispiece portrait of Mrs. Jordan, with ten additional portraits: one each of William IV and their children together.

  • Title: Public and private life of that celebrated actress, Miss Bland, otherwise Mrs. Ford, or, Mrs. Jordan : late mistress of H.R.H. the D. of Clarence; now King William IV., founder of the Fitzclarence family … Accompanied by numerous remarks and anecdotes of illustrious and fashionable characters / by a confidential friend of the departed ; embellished by portraits of the Fizclarence family.
  • Published: London : Published by J. Duncombe, 19, Little Queen Street, Holburn; and sold by all booksellers in the Kingdom, [1832?]

Catalog record

53 J762 P976

Acquired December 2012

The political pyramid of our glorious constitution…

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Williams, Charles, 1797-1850, engraver

The political pyramid of our glorious constitution in the year of grace 1828 of his Grace I.

Published: [London] : Pubd. Sepr. 1828 by J. Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate Hill, [Sept. 1828]

828.09.00.02+

A satire on Wellington’s dismissal of the Duke of Clarence. A pyramid built of large stones stands in a open field. At the apex is inscribed the word “King” at the base left “Lords” and right “Commons”. Knelling on either side in his robes is a peer facing a simply dressed M.P. Between them on the ground are the heads of a unicorn and a lion which is being gnawed by a crow and a rat. Wellington in full uniform straddles the two men who support him. Between his legs a plague on the pyramid reads: “Multum in parvo, or the British Constitution formerly consisting of the three estates, King, Lords, Commons, abridged into an elegant extract in one volume!”

Political pyramid: 1 print on wove paper : etching, hand-colored ; plate mark 25.4 x 36.5 cm., on sheet 30 x 39 cm. Subjects (Library of Congress): Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852–Caricatures and cartoons;
William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837; Great Britain. Admiralty; Great Britain–Politics and government–1800-1837; Pyramids; Satires (Visual works)–England–1828; Etchings–England–London–1828.

Lewis Walpole Library new acquisition: July, 2010