- Museum number
- 1865,1111.2107
- Title
- Object: Preachee & floggy too! Or hot & cold, with the same breath-exemplified in the clerical magistrate!
- Description
-
Two designs, side by side, with the caption [1] 'Religion & the Laws — or' [2] — Mercy versus Justice —', the same plump and drink-blotched parson depicted in both. [1] He stands in his pulpit, in profile to the left, blandly reading the sermon which lies on an open Bible. His right hand is raised: "Dearly beloved bretheren! I shall conclude, by enumerating a few of the leading Chracteristics [sic] of a true Christian—first; "to do unto all men, as ye would that they shoud do unto you," secondly; "to love thy Neighbour as thyself, indeed brotherly love, & kindness to each other, is a principal point in Christianity,—a Christian should also be merciful— Chirst [sic] himself expressly says, "I will have Mercy & not sacrifice", a Christian must also be charitable (see what St Paul says on that head)—feeding the hungary [sic]—Cloathing the Naked-—healing the sick,—visiting the Captive, in a word comforting & consoling Affliction, wherever it may be found—for as Jesus Christ saith—"for as much as ye have done it unto one of these little ones, so shall ye have done it unto me"—a Christian must also return good for evil, & forgive his enemies: as we are taught to pray "Forgive us our trespasses . . . [&c.] —he must walk at all times in the fear of God, & keep his commandments— lowly & meek in spirit—sober, & honest in all his dealings—these my dear friends are the duties of a true Christian—Peace & good will unto all Men—Amen." The lean clerk, sourly sanctimonious, sits in his desk below the pulpit. The congregation sit with their backs to the altar on which is Communion plate. They listen intently, one young man (? George Cruikshank), frowns sceptically. On the back of the pulpit behind the preacher's head are an irradiated cross and dove, on the side is an irradiated lamb holding a cross. [2] The same parson, his features transformed by an angry scowl, sits in a magisterial chair in profile to the right, raised on a dais of two steps, his huge paunch no longer concealed by gown and pulpit; one foot is gouty. His clerk, in more secular dress, and more congenially employed, writes busily at a table on the magistrate's left. Delinquents are ranged behind a bar or wooden rail, which extends across the design, corresponding to the pews in [1]. In front stand two little frightened boys, barelegged and ragged. They are herded by a burly brandy-faced constable with a tall staff. The clerical magistrate says: "You Mr Constable take the Children that you found doing nothing, & see them get a sound whiping, & take those Bunters to the House of Correction (I'll see them privately whip'd myself,) & take those blackguard Reformers, also, that I've committed for shouting. Some of these Reformers will come to the Gallows. I see the Rope already round their necks—by the bye there is a meeting of those rascals to day (a set of ungrateful wretches for three parts of 'em, are now receiving releif from the parish) go order the soldiers out to disperse them with the point of the swoard (there's no occasion to read the Riot Act)—Mr Clark make out those warrants for Distress for my tithes, on Farmer Hard-work & the others, Devil take 'em, they had the impudence, to tell me (when I said I shoud Distress, that they were Distress'd enough already! 'twas a Distressing pun, so I'll Distress them for it! (The widow beg'd time & pleaded a large family, but thats all nonsense I must have my tithes—I offer'd to take it out in her way—but she would not consent to that so she must take the consequences!—Hallo! stop that fellow, D— him he has'nt paid for swearing—G—d forgive me but there is so much wickedness in this wicked world that D— me if it is'nt enough to make a saint swear!—O!— Constable shew that little Girl with the big belly [erased] bonnet into the back parlour. I'll wait on her directly she comes on parish business so I must examine her privately." One of the men is heavily shackled.
Under the magistrate's seat is a large scroll: 'Memorandum Monday—to Dine with the Squire—make up my mind to 4 bottles—NB to be at the Hunt in the morg—Tuesday—Tea & Cards with Lady Scandal—Wednesday attend the hanging match of ye criminals I convicted last sessions—most likely come in for a Dinner with the Sherriff—Thursday—Dine with Lord Suckland [i.e. an encloser of common land] NB to transact Private Business in the Eveg if possible. Friday attend the private Whiping NB try to convert one of the girls— the other are too—ugly—Saturday, stay at home all day to pretend Study & keep myself Sober for Sunday—NB Marriage's Christings [sic] Burials &c &c &c next leaf.' A paper hanging from the clerk's table: 'Defauters in poor Rates to be levied on immediately—300—Criminals under Sentance of Death 50.. NB to be executed as soon as possible ye Prisons being so fullof Transports—200.' On the wall behind the culprits, corresponding to the altar in [1], are two pictures (obscured by the parson's speech): 'The New Jail' and 'New Barrack to hold 10,000 men'. Other emblems are equally contrasted: above the magistrate's head and surmounted by a crown are a gibbet and noose, a scourge and shackles. On the arm of his chair a pair of scales and a flaming sword. Lying beside him is a surly dog holding against its shoulder a constable's staff, contrasted with the lamb on the pulpit.
Plate numbered 374.
8 December 1819
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1819
- Dimensions
-
Height: 250 millimetres
-
Width: 348 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949)
A satire on clerical magistrates and especially Charles Wicksted Ethelston, of the Collegiate Church, Manchester, a county magistrate, see No. 13282. He read the Riot Act on 16 Aug. (see No. 13260) from a first-floor window, 'State Trials', N.S. i. 1184. He also published verses and controversial pamphlets, see B.M.L. Catalogue. At the New Bailey Sessions, on 23 Sept., he is reported to have said to a man charged with assault: 'I believe that you are a downright blackguard Reformer. Some of you Reformers ought to be hanged; and some of you are sure to be hanged—the rope is already round your necks; ... I will have no bail for this ruffianly crew unless they have some money.' Three poor boys were found sleeping in brick kilns; he said (to the mother of one of them): 'What do you think of a good whipping for them? Eh? Is not that a good scheme . . . Eh? Eh?' The boys were discharged. A leading article on 'Clerical Magistrates' followed in the 'Examiner', 3 and 10 Oct., pp. 633 f, 661 f. See especially Leigh Hunt's verses (signed Harry Brown), 'Reverend Magistracy'. Ibid., 24 Oct.; 'Poetical Works', 1922, p. 198 f. See also 'Black Dwarf', iii. 663 f. (13 Oct.): 'This reverend animal is only one of the corps of the enemies of reform; but so accurate a specimen that he may sit for all his comrades.' For barracks as threats to liberty see Nos. 8805, 9286, and for the prevailing fear of militarism, No. 13288. For 'Preachee & Floggy' (the protest of a negro to his master), see No. 9636 (1800). See also Nos. 11933, 13282, 13287, 13288, 13295, 13303, 13342. The design either derives from, or is imitated by, No. 13303.
Reid, No. 926. Cohn, No. 1862.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,1111.2107