- Museum number
- 1865,1111.676-699
- Description
-
Satirical pamphlet of 52 pages entitled, 'A Political Lecture on Heads by The Black Dwarf.'
Lettered below the title on the front page with the quotation: “How can I help it, if by queer mishap, Each on his head should place my random cap.” and "Second Edition" in a Gothic style typeface.
1. The vignette illustration on the title page, BM Satires 13564, represents Wooler, caricatured as "the Black Dwarf" (the persona used for his satirical publications, see BM Satires No. 12988), standing on the forehead of a triple head: a full-face flanked by profiles. The full-face is that of the Regent, the left profile that of Sidmouth, the right profile that of Castlereagh. The Dwarf has two volumes inscribed 'Black Dwarf' on his head, topped by ink-pot and pen. In his right hand is an open book with a caricature head on each page (Castlereagh (?) and the Regent); in the left, a pair of callipers with which he measures an eye of the triple head.
Lettered below the image: “London: printed for J. Johnston, Cheapside. 1820. Price Two Shillings.”
The pamphlet contains a verse satire based on George Alexander Stevens's lecture on heads (see BM Satires Nos 8379 (1878,0511.1380 with further explanation) and BM Satires 11155. It is Burdettite, Bonapartist, anti-clerical rancorously attacking both other radicals and ministerialists. The “heads” are recognisable public figures (except BM Satires 13577 which is “John Bull”), each represented with a bust length profile portrait and a satirical title and verses below.
2. BM Satires 13565. 'An Adonis.' The Regent, see BM Satires No. 14020, &c.
3. BM Satires 13566. 'A Darling Commander.' The Duke of York. The head: 'Of a bishop [see BM Satires No. 11227], a hero [see BM Satires No. 11023], a placeman [see BM Satires No. 13214], a lover - '. The text also refers to 'its darling [see BM Satires No. 11228] and deputy - Clarke'. See BM Satires No. 11216, &c.
4. BM Satires 13567. 'Sir William Biscuit.' See BM Satires No. 13564. Curtis (see BM Satires No. 11354) with bottle-nose.
5. BM Satires 13568. 'A Resurrection Man.' Cobbett, see BM Satires No. 13525, &c.: 'Whoever confides in his friendship will find/ But a sorry return for their faith in his mind.'
6. BM Satires 13569. 'The High Priest of Riot.' Hunt (cf. BM Satires No. 13895): 'The knave who occasion'd the bloodshed and woe/ Which the M-r [Manchester] victims have shewn, and still shew,'
7. BM Satires 13570. 'A Mighty commander.' The Tsar is favourably contrasted with the Regent, as in BM Satires No. 12290, &c.
8. BM Satires 13571. 'Smoak Jack.' Atkins, Lord Mayor 1818-19, is ridiculed as in BM Satires No. 13272.
9. BM Satires 13572. 'A great duke.' Wellington (cf. BM Satires No. 13302): 'Who is it that dashes his sword in the scale, That force and coercion, at length may prevail?'
10. BM Satires 13573.'Derry Down triangle.' Castlereagh, see BM Satires No. 14135: 'Let it rest - let it rot - let us throw it aside. And smother its vain insignificant pride!'
11. BM Satires 13574. 'A gouty legitimate.' Louis XVIII. Cf. BM Satires No. 13502.
12. BM Satires 13575. 'A Chancery-Lane noddle.' See BM Satires No. 13564. Lord Eldon.
13. BM Satires 13576. 'A spouter of froth.' Canning; the phrase is Hone's, see BM Satires No. 13301.
14. BM Satires 13577. 'John Bull.' A hideous 'cit' with carbuncled nose and ill-fitting wig. He is: ‘that insensible ass, Who tamely endures whatso'er comes to pass— . . .John's state is a state of self-wrong and deception; Hence his outward good looks—hence his children's regret— Their taxes, submission, and National Debt!’
15. BM Satires 13578. 'Rogues in grain.' Three overlapping profiles directed to the left, poorly characterized: (?) Hone in the middle, Gale Jones (as in BM Satires No. 13651) on the right, and Watson, (see BM Satires No. 13327,) on the left. These tag rag and bobtail, and sans-culottes fellows Who ought, one and all, to be sent to the gallows, To Dorchester Palace [see BM Satires No. 13319]—the Hulks—or the Cape—
16. BM Satires 13579. 'An embroiderer of petticoats.' Ferdinand VII, see No. 12508.
17. BM Satires 13580. 'An island exile.' Napoleon. '...there's none that can match him for talent and skill'.
18. BM Satires 13581. 'A wooden noddle.' Alderman Wood.
19. BM Satires 13582. 'A Heaven-born Minister.' Now, this is the Pilot, whose pride and ambition, Laid the splendid ground-work of our present condition . . . He is gone; but his worthless and wicked compeers. Yet remain—to insult us with sabres and sneers, To seize the last shilling our labour has earn'd, And foil us by charters and laws overturn'd! For the "Six Acts" to which the verse refers see BM Satires No. 13504, &c.
20. BM Satires 13583.'A Sanctified Priest.' A bloated parson with carbuncled nose. Cf. No. 13303. 'The spring of deception, hypocrisy, lust - and unworthy the flock who unwillingly trust:'
21. BM Satires 13584. 'Friend of the People.' Burdett (cf. BM Satires No. 13578). Renowned'For its sense of integrity, honour, and reason, And utter abhorrence of "positive treason".'
22. BM Satires 13585. 'Old Circular.' Sidmouth, see BM Satires No. 13301.
23. BM Satires 13586. 'The Calico Orator.' Alderman Waithman, cf. BM Satires No. 13677.
24. BM Satires 13587. 'Pounds, shillings and pence.' Vansittart, wearing his Chancellor of the Exchequer's gown.
On the verso: "Hamblin, printer, Garlick-Hill." and at the end of the pamphlet "T.Hamblin, Printer, Sugar-Loaf Court, Garlick Hill."
January 1820
Letterpress pamphlet with wood engraved illustrations.
- Production date
- 1820
- Dimensions
-
Height: 211 millimetres (approx. page size (page sizes vary throughout the pamphlet.))
-
Width: 140 millimetres (approx. page size (page sizes vary throughout the pamphlet.))
- 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 4" a compilation of political pamphlets published circa 1819-1822, number 4 of 10 volumes.
For another satire on Stevens' lecture from 1820 see: "A Political Lecture on Tails" published by Fairburn (1865,1111, 609-612) bound in "Political Tracts Volume 2" (184.a.2).
For a study for the frontispiece see 1868,0808.12927.
For a pen and ink study for the title-page, 13564, see 1868, 0808.12927.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated names
-
Associated with: Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh and 2nd Marquess of Londonderry
-
Associated with: George IV, King of the United Kingdom
-
Associated with: Thomas Jonathan Wooler
-
Associated with: Mary Anne Clarke
-
Associated with: Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany and Bishop of Osnabrück
-
Associated with: Sir William Curtis
-
Associated with: William Cobbett
-
Associated with: Henry "Orator" Hunt
-
Associated with: Alexander I, Tsar of Russia
-
Associated with: John Atkins
-
Associated with: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
-
Associated with: Louis XVIII, King of France
-
Associated with: John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon
-
Associated with: George Canning
-
Associated with: William Hone
-
Associated with: John Gale Jones
-
Associated with: Ferdinand VII, King of Spain
-
Associated with: Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (Napoleon)
-
Associated with: William Pitt the Younger
-
Associated with: Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Baronet
-
Associated with: Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
-
Associated with: Robert Waithman
-
Associated with: Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley
-
Associated with: Sir Matthew Wood, 1st Baronet
-
Associated with: James Watson
- Associated titles
Associated Title: A political lecture on heads. By the Black Dwarf.
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,1111.676-699
