- Museum number
- 1865,1111.931-943
- Description
-
Political pamphlet of 36 pages entitled “The Dorchester guide; or, a house that Jack built.”
Lettered beneath the title: “With Thirteen Cuts.
BM Satires 13318. The vignette illustration on the title page entitled “Truth and Falsehood.” represents pair of scales in which a 'Holy Bible' (left) outweighs two bulky documents: 'Age of Reason' [by Paine] and 'Principles of Nature' [by Elihu Palmer, American]. Lettered beneath the image with the quotation: “The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam- Milton.”
With the publisher’s details at the foot of the page: “London: Printed and Published for the Author by Dean and Munday, Threadneedle-street. Sold also by Wilson and Chappell, Royal-Exchange, Johnston, Cheapside; Simpkin and Marshall, Stationers’ Court; Rivington, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall: Knight’s Sweeting’s alley; and all other booksellers. Price One Shilling and Sixpence.”
The pamphlet subverts the format of William Hone’s famous radical pamphlet, “The Political House that Jack Built”, BM Satires 13292, 1865,1111,388-400, to attack prominent radicals and reformers and to endorse or call for their prosecution. Each illustration is in direct opposition to the corresponding print by Cruikshank. See Nos. 13319-30. (See: 'Europ. Mag.' xxxvi. 531.) Richard Carlile was convicted of publishing both Paine’s “Age of Reason” and Palmer’s “Principles of Nature” depicted on the title-page see BM Satires No. 13274, the latter in weekly numbers in the 'Deist'.
BM Satires 13319. “This is a house that Jack built.” The façade of a prison decorated with shackles. A signpost pointing (left) to 'Bridport' and (right) to 'Blandford' indicates Dorchester Gaol where Carlile was imprisoned.
BM Satires 13320. “This is John Bull who does nothing by halves.” A whole length portrait of George III in military dress, wearing cocked hat and sword, his left hand resting on a cane. For George III as John Bull cf. BM Satires Nos. 8346, 10088, &c.
BM Satires 13321. “And these are his children, a reprobate pack.” An unruly mob who wave their hats and shout. One brandishes a spiked club, one picks a pocket. Behind are houses and the dome of St. Paul's. The lines include: “Who Blasphemy, Treason, Rebellion, exhibit,—“
BM Satires 13322. And this is a chief, of deistical fame, A whole length portrait of Carlile, holding his hat in his right hand in his left a sheet (or proof) headed 'Age of Reason'. The lines relate to his three years' imprisonment in Dorchester Gaol and his rent of 'five-hundred a year' to the King, i.e. the fines of £1,000 for publishing the 'Age of Reason', and £500 for 'Principles of Nature', see BM Satires No. 13274, &c.
BM Satires 13323. This is an orator, not quite from Greece, A whole length portrait of Hunt making a speech, right hand raised cap of Liberty in his left hand.
BM Satires 13324. And this is the cart, from which radicals spout. A two-wheeled cart with the shafts supported on 'Gin' barrels It is covered by a platform from which fly six banners, four surmounted by a cap of Liberty, one by a wreath, and one by (?) a bundle of matches. The three banners facing the spectator are respectively inscribed in large letters-'[Un]iversal Suffrage'; 'Hunt and [Li]berty'; '[An]nual [Parli]aments'. See No. 13252, &c.
BM Satires 13325. And this is the Cartwright, a radical player. A whole length portrait of Major Cartwright, arms extended, cocked hat in left hand, as if addressing an audience. He is dressed half as naval, half as military officer, wearing a spurred jack-boot on his left leg. The lines include:
'Gainst Placemen and Pensioners thunders away,/ But still (tho' a Sinecure) fobs his half-pay:/
Amphibious he, as well as seditious,/ A jubilee Captain, a Major Militi'ous;
For Cartwright as 'The Drum Major of Sedition' see BM Satires No. 6474 (1784). He had been a naval officer before becoming a major in the Notts Militia.
BM Satires 13326. And this is the priest, neither shaven nor shorn,
A ranting preacher, wearing a hat and gloves, raises both arms. The lines include:
“With puritan twang, was to prelude petition/ But had it cut short by a Writ for Sedition.”
He is perhaps Harrison. For the attitude of dissenting ministers to the Reform agitation of 1819 see Halévy, 'Hist. of the English People 1815-1830', 1926, p. 62.
BM Satires 13327. And this is Wat's son, "all tattered and torn," A whole length portrait of James Watson ('spawn of Wat Tyler'), see BM Satires No. 12887. He holds under his arm a huge syringe; in his pocket is a medicine-bottle. In 1816 he had prepared combustibles for blowing up cavalry barracks in Portman Square, and after his acquittal on a charge of treason continued to conspire and agitate, welcoming Hunt in London after Peterloo, see BM Satires No. 13273.
BM Satires 13328. And this is a Hone, by subscription 'twas oiled. Justice, blindfolded, and holding up her scales in her left hand, places her sword against a hone, representing William Hone as in BM Satires No. 12886. The lines continue: 'Because it the measures of Justice had foiled,'.
BM Satires 13329. And this is the idol of Far-in-town-Place, Waithman, wearing his alderman's gown and chain, stands directed to the left, making a speech. He is (correctly) represented as prime-mover in the subscription for Hone.
BM Satires 13330. And this is the devil, to bring up the rear.
Byron, wearing peer's robes and a coronet, stands directed to the left, as if making a speech. The left leg terminates in a cloven hoof. The lines include:
“His verses so sweet and harmonious appear/ The mind is corrupted while tickling the ear.”
An antithesis to the cut on the Regent (No. 13299) reflecting reactions to 'Don Juan', cf. especially the attack in 'Blackwood's Magazine', Aug. 1819: Byron is said to be resolved to show himself as 'a cool unconcerned fiend'.
Lettered at the end of the pamphlet Dean and Munday, Printers, Threadneedle Street.
1819
Wood-engraved vignette illustrations to a letterpress pamphlet
- Production date
- 1819
- Dimensions
-
Height: 213 millimetres (approx. page size)
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Width: 138 millimetres (approx. page size)
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949)
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 previous volumes which often satirise the Regent, subsequently George IV, his court and his ministers.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
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Associated Title: The Dorchester guide; or, a house that Jack built.
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Associated Title: The Political House that Jack Built (A response to Hone' pamphlet see BM Satires 13292, 1865,1111,388-400.)
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Associated Title: Sketches of the Life of Billy Cobb and the Death of Tommy Pain (By the same author, see BM Satires 13522, 1865, 1111.840)
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,1111.931-943