- Museum number
- 1865,1111.741-747
- Description
-
Political pamphlet of 44 pages on the Queen Caroline affair entitled: “The magic lantern or, green bag plot laid open; A Poem.”
Lettered beneath the title with seven lines of text beginning: “Exhibiting a correct, complete, and convincing Illucidation [sic] of the treatment, sufferings and persecution of the Queen from the time of her landing in 1795.”
Beneath the text: “By a Wild Irish Woman, Author of ‘The house that Queen Caroline built’ and other fugitive pieces.”
1.The frontispiece illustration, BM Satires 13998, represents a scene on the shore. Lord Hutchinson, in court dress, with sly obsequiousness proffers a money-bag inscribed '50,000' to the Queen (see BM Satires No. 13730, &c.). She spurns it with a proud gesture. Below: 'What! does her Husband pray her to go and sin no more? No. Go and indulge your appetites; continue your adulterous intercourse; and you shall be furnished with ample means . . .' [Cf. Brougham's speech of 4 Oct. and Denman's closing words on 25 Oct. 'Parl. Deb.', N.S. iii. 179 ff., 1184.] This or a similar print is depicted in No. 14049.
With the publisher’s line at the foot of the page: “London: Printed for and By S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly; And may be had of R. Fores, 71, Aldgate. Price Two Shillings. N.B. An immense collection of Caricatures on this and other Subjects. 1820.”
The verse satire presents its narrative as a magic lantern show representing the events of Queen Caroline’s marriage and “trial.”
2. BM Satires 13999. 'Listeners and peepers never hear any good of themselves.'
Queen Charlotte, caricatured, sits in an arm-chair, eagerly extending her arms towards Lady Jersey, behind whom is a wall-map inscribed 'I. of Jersey'. The latter, with sly delight, holds a candle to the seal of a letter. For this incident, a letter sent by the Princess to her father, which reached the hands of Lady Jersey who showed it to the Prince, see BM Satires No. 8809 (1796).
3. BM Satires 14000. 'The Milan Agent Letting the Cat out of the Bag;-'The title continues: 'for Particulars inquire of Vilmarcati, Brown, and Rastelli.' A courier rides a galloping horse, blowing through a trumpet the words: '40 Francs each for good staunch Witnesses; Fortunes may be made.—Instruction at the Commission Warehouse, "Qui en veut."' In one hand is a bag of 'Gold', in the other a large bag, from which (unnoticed) a cat escapes. A signpost points 'To Milan'. See BM Satires No. 13755, &c. For Rastelli's return to Italy see BM Satires No. 13903. Vimercati was the legal agent in Milan to the Milan Commission, see No. 13755, &c.
4. See BM Satires 13998, A repetition of the cut from the title-page.
5. BM Satires 14001, 'Addres[s] of the City of London.' The Queen, seated, receives an address (the inscription on which serves as title) from the kneeling Lord Mayor, who is introduced by Alderman Wood. In the background are two other aldermen. On 23 June an Address from the City was presented to the Queen by the Lord Mayor (Bridges), Aldermen, and Common Councilmen. See 'Examiner', 1820, pp. 396, 399. Cf. BM Satires No. 13934, &c.
6. BM Satires 14002, 'Divine Vengeance.' Gifford and Copley stand side by side in the House of Lords; the former is speaking; lightning flashes, with an inscription which serves as title, dart towards them from a cloud (right). They register terror as do four peers, including Wellington and the Archbishop of Canterbury. A 'dreadful storm' (loud peals of thunder) began as the Attorney-General opened the case against the Queen (19 Aug.).
7. BM Satires 14003. 'Ministers at dinner.' Ministers sit in sour silence facing empty plates and covered dishes. Liverpool and Sidmouth (right) are opposite Castlereagh, Eldon, Gifford, and Wellington. They have lost their appetites: “For the Queen is acquitted in spite of the oaths/ Of wretches who live by the lies they depose.” For the dropping of the Bill see BM Satires No. 13986, &c.
"Epigrams" are printed on the back page of the pamphlet:
“On the Queen,” “On the Queen’s Innocence” and “On the Ministers Refusing the Queen’s Plate.”
Lettered at the end of the text: “Printed by SW Fores, 41, Piccadilly.
November 1820
Wood-engraved vignette illustrations to a letterpress pamphlet
- Production date
- 1820
- Dimensions
-
Height: 221 millimetres (approx. page size)
-
Width: 137 millimetres (approx. page size)
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952)
All illustrations are perhaps by I. R. Cruikshank.
Bound as part of "Political Tracts Volume 5." Volume 5 of 10 volumes of political pamphlets, published circa 1819-1822.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated names
-
Associated with: Caroline of Brunswick
-
Associated with: George IV, King of the United Kingdom
-
Associated with: John Hely Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore
-
Associated with: Charlotte, Queen of George III
-
Associated with: Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey
-
Associated with: Thomas Henry Browne
-
Associated with: Giuseppe Rastelli
-
Associated with: Vimercati
-
Associated with: George Bridges
-
Associated with: Sir Matthew Wood, 1st Baronet
-
Associated with: John Singleton Copley, Baron Lyndhurst
-
Associated with: Robert Gifford, Baron Gifford
-
Associated with: Charles Manners-Sutton, Archbishop of Canterbury
-
Associated with: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
-
Associated with: Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh and 2nd Marquess of Londonderry
-
Associated with: John Scott, 2nd Earl of Eldon
-
Associated with: Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool
-
Associated with: Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
- Associated titles
Associated Title: The House Queen Caroline Built (Also written under the pseudonym "A Wild Irishwoman.")
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,1111.741-747
