print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1851,0901.944
- Title
- Object: Stealing Off;-or-Prudent Secession;
- Description
-
Fox flees in terror through the doorway of the House of Commons, taking an enormous stride. Beside him runs a thin demoniac greyhound, Grey, wearing a collar: 'Opposition Grey-Hound'. A small animal runs behind with the head of M. A. Taylor. Through the doorway are seen half the Speaker's chair and the Opposition benches, while the hands of Pitt, who is speaking, project from the left, holding two scrolls: 'O'Conner's list of Secret Traitors' and 'Destruction of Buonaparte - Capture of the French Navy - End of the Irish Rebellion - Voluntary Associations - Europe Arming - Britannia Ruling the Waves'. His words float towards the dismayed Opposition: 'Read o'er This! - And after this! - And then to Breakfast, with what appetite you may!!!' The Opposition are furtively eating papers: Sheridan eats 'Loyalty of the Irish Nation'; Tierney, 'Homage to the French Con[? stitution]'. Between them is squeezed the hat of C. Fox, indicating that between them they have left little room for their leader. Erskine, the egotist [see BMSat 9246, &c], eats 'my own Loyalty'; Shuckburgh, 'French lib[erty]'; Nicholls, 'a Letter to W Pitt'; Burdett, 'Egalité'; an unidentified member eats 'Peace or Ruin'. All wear hats except Burdett and Erskine. The House is lit by candles burnt to the socket, suggesting an all-night sitting. After the title:
'"------courageous Chief!)
"The first in Flight!" { N.B. The back-ground contains, a corner of the House next Session; with the Reasons for Secession; - also, a democratic Déjeuné; - i.e. Opposition Eating up their Words.'
6 November 1798
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1798
- Dimensions
-
Height: 356 millimetres
-
Width: 255 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VII, 1942)
For the secession see BMSat 9018, &c. For the speedy dissatisfaction at the secession felt by the Opposition see 'Lady Holland's Journal', i. 164-5 (Dec. 1797), 215 (Dec. 1798); Fox, 'Memorials and Corr.' iii. 144 (Mar. 1798). One of many prints illustrating the effects of the Battle of the Nile on the Opposition, see BMSat 9248, &c. For O'Connor's revelations see BMSat 9245, &c. The first allusion to the diplomatic consequences of the victory, see BMSat 9273. The quotation from 'Paradise Lost' (iv. 920-1) compares Fox with Satan, cf. BMSat 9261, &c.
Grego, 'Gillray', p. 251. Wright and Evans, No. 210. Reprinted, 'G.W.G.', 1830.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1851
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1851,0901.944
