- Museum number
- 1865,1111.567
- Description
-
Satirical pamphlet of 21 pages on the Queen Caroline affair entitled: 'The King, Avowed Enemy of The Queen. A New Royal Game of Chess played for Half-Crown Stakes.'
Lettered below the title with the quotation:
"Old fools are babes again; and must be us'd
With checks as flatt'ries when they're seen abus'd. Lear"
And the author's pseudonym:
"Invented by Philoi-d'or
With an Engraving, Designed and Executed by Mr. I.R. Cruikshank.
London: Printed for T. Dolby, 299 Strand, 30 Holywell Street and 34, Wardour Street Soho.
1820
Price One Shilling."
Lettered on verso: "W. Molineux, printer, 5, Bream's Buildings / Chancery Lane."
A fold-out illustration bound opposite the title page, BM Satires 13870, represents fantastic chessmen are arranged in three rows of five. In the centre of the first row is the Green Bag, see BM Satires No. 13735, &c., flanked by rats, one wearing a judge's wig, but who nevertheless seem to be Gifford and Copley. On the extreme left and right are portrait busts of the King and Queen. The former wears many orders including a dog for the 'Whelpic' (Guelphic) order. Below the Green Bag is a large money-bag from which two hands issue, scattering coin. This is in the centre of the design and is flanked by a leech with the head of Leach and a jackal, representing Col. Browne (see BM Satires No. 13755). On the extreme left is a fortress bristling with guns and manned by soldiers, and on the extreme right the bust of a bloated bishop. In the centre of the third row is a serpent ('Traditore'or Teodoro Majocchi, cf. BM Satires No. 13827) flanked by Kress, a woman holding a chamber-pot, and by a merry-andrew (an unnamed Italian witness). On the extreme left is Wellington on a galloping horse, sabre in hand, and on the extreme right a cannon with the head of Canning at the muzzle, emitting smoke.
The satire is on the 'trial' of Queen Caroline, see BM Satires No. 13825. Points made in the text include the King's reliance on soldiery ('Towers'), on Bishops (for the Lords' vote), and on bribes and 'vermin'. The Queen's game, still undecided, is wholly defence; her strength lies in her multitude of pawns. Cannon (Canning) is 'a State-pawn made of brass and loaded with powder only'; he retreats, and is not openly seen again after making 'a slight flash and great noise'. See BM Satires No. 13737. The name of F.-A.-D. Philidor, the great chess-player, is punningly adapted. (BM Satires 13870.)
c. October 1820
Etched folded illustration and letterpress pamphlet
- Production date
- 1820
- Dimensions
-
Height: 181 millimetres (Approximate height of illustration)
-
Height: 220 millimetres (Approximate page height of pamphlet)
-
Width: 130 millimetres (Approximate page width of pamphlet)
-
Width: 228 millimetres (Approximate width of illustration)
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952)
Bound as part of 'Political Tracts Volume 2,' number 2 of 10 volumes of “Political Tracts” A compilation of satirical and political pamphlets published circa 1819-1822. The contents of this volume mainly concern the Queen Caroline affair and satirise the Prince Regent, subsequently George IV, his court and ministers.
For a pen and ink study, see: 1868, 0808.12939.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: The King the avowed enemy of the Queen: a new royal game of chess, played for half-crown status.
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,1111.567
