print; satirical print

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Object Type: print; satirical print
Museum number: 1849,1003.55
Title: Object: The Political Libertines, or Motion upon Motion.
Description: Satire on the ineffectual opposition at the time of the parliamentary motion to remove Robert Walpole from office; all those represented were involved in the failed motion, whether in parliament or the press. Lord Carteret's coach, the "Commonwealth", overturns as it is driven by the Duke of Argyll from right to left in front of Westminster Hall towards the Exchequer building. Carteret leans out of the window crying "I'm out", Argyll waves a ribbon lettered, "Pro Patria mori", behind, Richard Temple, Viscount Cobham, falls, calling out, "O! my P[la]c[e]"; Lord Hervey, "poor Fanny", Lord Privy Seal, is trampled by one of the horses; Lord Chesterfield, crying "Lost it" rides the leader and a young man, identified in the verses as "M-d-t", clings closely to him; Lord Lyttelton ("Tony") rides away despairingly holding a label lettered, "Liberty". Winged fame (unidentified) flies above, carrying a ribbon lettered, "I'll to Yorkshire". In the foreground, at left, Samuel Sandys drops the "Pension Bill", exclaiming, "Z[ou]ns it's Over"; Lord Pulteney leads Henry Fielding, "Champion" and "Commonsense" (referring to opposition journals) by the nose while he thrusts his sword through the "Gazetteer", the government journal, and pushes a wheelbarrow laden with other opposition journals, the Craftsman, and "A Letter to ye Earl"; he expostulates, "D[a]m it to let him Drive" referring to Argyll's prominent role in the motion; Lord Gage, on horseback, the word, "Preferment" on his coat and a riband lettered across his shoulder, "my Spee[ch]" (against the Convention of the Pardo, delivered in the House of Commons on 8 March 1748, see BM Satires 2352); Bishop Smalbroke, complains, "I can Pray, but not Fast" while a pig stands at his feet, devils flying into its mouth. A monkey falls back in front of Pulteney, a fox (Cardinal Fleury?) calls, "I will have Peace", slipping towards a dtich in which flounders a bull, labelled "Barcelona". A verse at the bottom of the scene reads, "Thay are All undone,/There is no more Fun,/At Bull-Ing-Brook Fair", in reference to Lord Bolingbroke's continual campaigning against Walpole. 1741 Etching
Producer name
School/style
Production date: 1741 (circa)
Production place: Published in: London (England)
Materials
Technique
Dimensions: Height: 203 millimetres (cropped); Width: 329 millimetres (cropped)
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: The print was advetised in the Daily Post, 7 March 1741: "This Day at One o'clock, will be Pulblish'd, (Price Six-pence) The Political Libertines; or, Motion upon Motion. A curious Print, to the same Tune of Doodle, Bob, &c. Printed for George Bickham, at the Blackamoor's Head, in Exeter Exchange, in the Strand. Where may be had, being the only Original, and publish'd first, The Reason. Price 6d. [see BM Satires 2491] N.B. The other Reason appears to be no Reason at all". The present print is also mentioned in an advertisement for BM Satires 2463 in the Daily Post, 20 March 1741, "a new Edition ... the first and second Editions being all sold"
Bibliographic references
Location: Not on display
Subjects: satire; allegory/personification; politics; mammal; carriage/coach; newspaper; swine
Associated names: Associated with: Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford; Representation of: William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath; Representation of: John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville; Representation of: John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll; Representation of: Richard Temple, 1st Viscount Cobham; Representation of: George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton of Frankley; Representation of: John Hervey, Baron Hervey of Ickworth; Representation of: Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield; Representation of: Samuel Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys of Ombersley; Representation of: Thomas, 1st Viscount Gage; Representation of: Richard Smalbroke, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry; Representation of: Cardinal André Hercule de Fleury (?); Associated with: Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke; Representation of: Henry Fielding
Associated places: Topographic representation of: London
Acquisition name
Previous owner
Acquisition date: 1849
Acquisition notes: 1849,1003.1 to 100 were purchased by A E Evans at the 3rd part of the Stowe sale (collection of the Duke of Buckingham) on 7-8 August 1849. The lots purchased were 258, 261, 266-7, 269-70, 273 (all of caricatures), and lot 24 (sea fights)
Department: Prints and Drawings
Registration number: 1849,1003.55

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