print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.6666
- Title
- Object: Truant school-boys returning to their duty!!
- Description
-
Pitt runs angrily forward from a doorway on the left, holding out a birch-rod in his left hand towards a procession of trembling truants, each with a bag of books. Fox is their leader, a handkerchief held in front of a wary and apprehensive eye; Sheridan follows him; both are in tatters. Grey, next, is in slightly better case; beside him trots the diminutive M. A. Taylor, covering his face with his hand; at his feet are a hen and chickens (see BMSat 6777). Last comes Erskine, a handkerchief to his eye. All wear bonnets-rouges and all have expressions of angry alarm. Pitt says: "O you pack of sad Jacobin Rascals, So. because you could not bar me out of my own School you went off in the sulks! I've had a Rod in pickle for you some time and I'll tickle your Tobys' to the tune of Ca ira!!" Behind him, in the shadow of the doorway, are three men, only two of whom are characterized: Dundas in a Scots cap, and a bawling man perhaps intended for Grenville. 26 November 1797
Hand-coloured etching and aquatint
- Production date
- 1797
- Dimensions
-
Height: 291 millimetres
-
Width: 416 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VII, 1942)
A satire on the secession of the Opposition leaders from Parliament, see BMSat 9018, &c. They did not reappear until 14 Dec, when they opposed the Assessed Taxes Bill, see BMSat 9043, and Fox's entry was received with a burst of applause. 'Parl. Hist.' xxxiii. 1100.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.6666