- Museum number
- 1865,1111.577-581
- Description
-
Satirical pamphlet of 32 pages on the Queen Caroline Affair entitled: “Jack and The Queen Killers; or, The Giant of the Island. A Tale for the Times.” Lettered beneath the title on the cover page: “Embellished with a Finely-Engraved Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Caroline. Price One Shilling.”
The pamphlet, written in verse form and supportive of Queen Caroline, satirises George IV and his court and emphasizes popular support for the Queen.
On the verso, an almost half-length portrait of Caroline of Brunswick, directed slightly to left and looking to front, wearing dark dress and hat with large feathers; rectangular frame in etching and stipple lettered “Caroline, Queen of England.”
1. BM Satires 13994. An additional title page is bound opposite the portrait lettered “Jack and the Queen Killers.” The frontispiece illustration represents justice' (her sword so inscribed) holding up her scales, in which a dove, 'Innocence', outweighs the bulky contents of the 'Green [Bag', see BM Satires No. 13735], together with a judge, a bishop, and a third man, despite the efforts of a tiny demon-lawyer (Gifford) who clings to the beam. The contents of the bag are falling into the fanged and flaming jaws of a monster, representing Hell. These are papers inscribed 'Lies' and 'Cruel'; serpents with human heads: Sidmouth, Liverpool, Castlereagh, and (?) Harrowby; a leech (Leach, see BM Satires No. 13740). Five witnesses have already reached the flames; Majocchi says: "Non mi Ricardo" [see BM Satires No. 13827, &c.]; Demont: "Je ne me Rapelle pas" [see BM Satires No. 13857]. The left hand of Justice rests on a shield like that of Britannia, but centred by a bust portrait of the Queen, framed in a wreath surmounted by a crown. This is supported by branches of oak and a book inscribed 'Truth'. (attributed in the Widener Catalogue to R. Seymour).
Lettered beneath the illustration:
"London: Sold by T.Dolby, 299 Strand; J. Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate Hill; And all Booksellers. Printed by J.Swan, 76, Fleet Street. 1820."
2. BM Satires 13995. [Giant Blubberbore Drives the Princess from His Palace.] The Prince (fat and elderly), in quasi-Roman armour, wields a club and uses attendant reptilian demons to drive away the Princess, who flees, clasping her infant. Two of the demons resemble caricatures of Sir John and Lady Douglas, see BM Satires No. 12026, &c.; a third wearing a coronet may be Hutchinson, see BM Satires No. 13730. The original separation, see BM Satires No. 13794, seems combined with the departure in 1814, see BM Satires No. 13797.
3. BM Satires 13996.[Jack is Introduced to the Princess.] A young man bends low before the Princess, while a woman holds out a scroll: 'Protect the Innocent'. Behind, a wedding is in progress. Jack is Lieut. Hownam, (see BM Satires No. 14142, and index).
4. BM Satires 13997 [Protection]. Jack holding a shield inscribed 'Protection' (the only title) stands between the Princess and two villains with daggers and 'poison-cup' containing a serpent. (BM Satires 13997.) For the popular belief in the Princess's danger see BM Satires No. 13868, &c.
c. November 1820
Wood-engraving to a letterpress pamphlet with etched portrait in stipple
- Production date
- 1820
- Dimensions
-
Height: 215 millimetres (approx. page size)
-
Width: 136 millimetres (approx. page size)
- Curator's comments
- (Description from M. Dorothy George, ('Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952) except portrait description.
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.
George provides titles for the illustrations in squared brackets which do not appear on the object with the exception of "Protection" which is integrated into the illustration.
The portrait of Queen Caroline is by an anonymous artist. Her costume resembles that depicted in Thomas Lawrence's 1804 portrait (National Portrait Gallery NPG 244.)
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Jack and the Queen killers.
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,1111.577-581
