- Museum number
- 1865,1111.883-893
- Description
-
Political Pamphlet of 20 pages, (numbered pages 6-20) entitled “The Christian house, built by Truth on a rock. Or, an antidote to infidelity.” Lettered below the title:
“Embellished with Engravings” and the Biblical quotation: “Upon this Rock I will Build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not Prevail Against it.” XVI St Matt.18 v.
1. In the vignette illustration on the title page, BM Satires 13544, books on a cushion support an open Bible. One page headed 'St Luke', the other 'Proverbs', with quotations from 'xi Chap 28 v.' and 'XII Chap. 5 v.' respectively. With the publisher’s details printed below the illustration:
“London. Printed for the Author & Sold by W.Williams. Amen Corner, Paternoster Row & all other Booksellers- 1820.”
With a 12 line quotation from Jude on the verso commencing, “-Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you.”
The dedication on the opening page in an ornate script describes the pamphlet as a 'humble attempt to counteract the baneful Doctrines of Infidelity . . . inscribed to the Ministers of the Established Church, and to Christians of all Denominations'.
One of many counter-pamphlets to William Hone's famous satire, “The Political House that Jack Built.” See BM Satires No. 13292, 1865,1111,388-400. The text and the engravings, all with the same signature, are by John Baker of Sydenham. The whole of the text is engraved and below each plate is a quotation from the Bible. The whole of the text is engraved and below each plate is a quotation from the Bible.
2. BM Satires 13545. “This is the house, built by Truth on a rock.” An irradiated temple is surrounded by a ring of clouds; from these flashes of lightning dart against the rock on which it stands.
3. BM Satires 13546. “These are the blessed volumes... that lay in the house.” A group of large books with a chalice in a church. A large Bible, inscribed 'I H S', rests against 'Select Sermons' and 'Common Prayer', together with 'Paley on Christianity'. They are at the base of a picture. In the background is a pulpit.
4. BM Satires 13547. “These are the sage doctors, of learning profound.” Three ecclesiastics stand together. One, left, is probably the Archbishop of Canterbury; one, right, wears a Geneva gown.
5. BM Satires 13548. These were atheists & deists, a mushroom race! A group of four men in the dress of different periods. The centre figure is Tom Paine (not caricatured). A man in early seventeenth-century costume is evidently Lord Herbert of Cherbury (1583-1648), the father of English Deism. A third, in early eighteenth-century dress, may be Matthew Tindal (1653-1733). The fourth wearing fur cap and furred gown, is evidently Spinoza, see No. 13549.
6. BM Satires 13549. These are the vile books, where they try to blaspheme, Books lie among noxious weeds with a serpent coiled round them. 'Palmers Principles of Nature' [see BM Satires No. 14406] lies against Paine's 'Age of Reason Part 3 [open at] An Essay on Dream' [sic]. This rests against 'Spinoza's works', below which lie 'Philosophical Dictionary' and 'Ruins . . .' (illegible words not suggesting Volney's 'Ruines, ou Méditations sur les Révolutions des Empires' [cf.BM Satires No. 9352], which may, however, be the work depicted). The Dictionary is probably 'The Philosophical Dictionary' by F. S-, M.D., pub. Benbow, 2nd ed., 1822.
7. BM Satires 13550. “This is the poor ignorant man they beguil'd.” A (flattering) portrtait of Carlile, whole-length, holding out an open book: [Paine's] 'Age of Reason Part II'. The text continues: 'Who hung o'er their pages, And vacantly smil'd'. See BM Satires No. 13274.
8. BM Satires 13551. “This is the attorney who stepp'd in a trice.” Gifford, Attorney-General, stands in profile to the right, speaking in court, a brief in his left hand. The text continues: 'To stop the career of seduction and vice'. A justification of the prosecution of Carlile, see BM Satires No. 13274.
9. BM Satires 13552. “Behold here, the merited earthly reward.” A prison cell, with a heap of straw on the floor, one chair, and a table on which are a jug, loaf, and knife. Carlile was in Dorchester jail, see BM Satires No. 13319.
10. BM Satires 13553. “And this is what Christians must surely expect.” Three men wearing gowns and bands are attacked by five ruffians with daggers, &c. A fourth lies prone in the foreground. The text continues: 'If to punish prophaneness, they dare to neglect'.
11. BM Satires 13554. Then rally en masse round the altar & throne, A king sits on a throne between two ministers or judges, one holding 'Magna Carta', the other a book inscribed 'Law'. Beside them is a small altar inscribed 'IHS', on which is a chalice. A surpliced clergyman stands beside it with arm pointing upwards. All the figures are on a dais.
January 1820
Etched and engraved illustrations to an engraved pamphlet
- Production date
- 1820
- Dimensions
-
Height: 217 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)
Bound as part of "Political Tracts Volume 6”. Number 6 of 10 volumes of "Political Tracts" Published circa 1819-1822. The pro-government and anti-"radical" tone of this volume’s content contrasts with the pamphlets in the earlier volumes which often satirise George IV, his court and his ministers.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,1111.883-893
