- Museum number
- 1865,1111.991-1017
- Description
-
Satirical pamphlet of 56 pages (numbered pages 6-56, with an additional 3 folded illustration sheets) entitled:
'A slap at slop and the bridge street gang. By the author of the Political house that Jack built.'
The pamphlet is a reissue of the broadsides published under the same title by William Hone in 1821 as a parody of John Stoddart's publication 'The new times.'
Lettered on the title page:
'A slap at slop and the Bridge Street gang. By the author of the Political house that Jack built.'
1. The frontispiece illustration, [The New Times] BM Satires 14207 represents:
An old woman (Stoddart) sitting on a stool blowing with bellows a fire enclosed in a reversed crown, on which stands a covered and steaming slop-pail. A dandified man (George IV) wearing the boots which are the embelem of the King, see No. 14220, stands by, drinking from the saucer of his steaming mug. A boy walks off, clasping his stomach. Behind is a shop front, Printing Office Crane Court.
The print is a satire on Stoddart's paper, cf BM Satires No. 13517, described as 'Royal Red Hot Slop, seven pence per pail; spooned out every morning..., at 153 Fleet Street .... NB Serves Carlton House.' It is the 'chief support' of 'Members of the Bridge Street Society,' see BM Satires 14221. Cf Examiner 27th May 1821, 'the raving Ultras of the New Times.' Hone, having called Stoddart Dr Slop, see BM Satires No. 12545, styled his paper on the slop-pail, see BM Satires 14167, and here makes it the pail of the street seller of saloop (sassafrass tea.) Lettered beneath the illustration: "With Twenty Seven Cuts."
With the publisher's line at the foot of the page:
"London: printed by and For William Hone, 45 Ludgate Hill, 1822. Half a Crown."
Opening with Hone's address 'to the reader' dated August 2, 1821. The 'Original Address' is printed on the following page.The pamphlet is divided into a series of articles with woodengraved illustrations.
2. BM Satires 14230. 'A slap at slop.' An old woman (Stoddart as in BM Satires No. 14207.) empties a slop-pail down a grating in a squalid court. A dark entry behind her is placarded Back Way to the Hole & Corner King & Cos Entire.
3.BM Satires 14225. 'Dr Slop's obscenity.' A copy of BM Satires 13287, 'A freeborn Englishman.!'; the axe is incribed "Law of Libel"; the broken sword "Justice." The book under John Bull's foot is 'Rights of Englishmen.' The original, according to Hone's explanation of the cut, was styled an 'indecent' Caricature in the New Times' report of the Attorney-General's speech on 3rd July 1821; the print was brought at King's shop.
4.BM Satires 14221. 'The damnable association;' or 'The infernal inquisition of black friars':
The title continues: An Interior View of the Den in Bridge Street, with the Gang at Work. Heading printed from three blocks, to the second page; three scenes in continuous design.
4.1. Truth holding her mirror, stands with her arms chained to a horizontal beam, while Stoddart (1.) wearing a Jesuit's biretta with a tricolour cockade (denoting the ex-Jacobin) pulls at a lever to apply torture. A masked bishop as Grand Inquisitor stands rigidly (r). The vaulted stone cell is lit by a hanging slop pail, Slop's Press [See No. 14207.] with rays inscribed "Darkness Visible." Liberty, holding her staff, hangs by one wrist, chained to the roof; a large weight marked by a crown is tied to her ankles.
4.2. Three Inquisitors, all wearing the biretta of a Jesuit, demolish a printing press which has been set on fire. Two wield axes, one inscribed "Sharp" (to indicate J.B. Sharpe an Hon. Sec of the Association, said to have been twice bankrupt); the third, a masked bishop uses a malet.
4.3. More Inquisitors burn caricatures and pamphlets in a large fire blazing on the stone flags of a cell like that in 1, a demon capering joyfully in the foreground. A grotesque Inquisitor holding an axe presides in a chair raised on a pedestal. Sewell (1) with withered leg (See BM Satires No. 14223) holds BM Satires No. 13790 spiked on a pitchfork; a large brief bag is in his l. hand. Wellington rams a pamphlet 'House that Jack Built' (BM Satires 13292 & c.) into the flames on the point of a huge cross-hilted sword. The King's booted legs (cf. BM Satires No 14220) are depicted on another print. Curtis, bloated, faces the fire holding a knife and fork. Two decadent peers and a man in a tall fool's cap complete the group. The cell is lit by a large crown suspended from the roof; its rays are "Places, Pensions, Preferments, Reversions, Promotions, Translations [of bishops], Rank, Public Money.
4. BM Satires 14223.'The new devil upon two sticks.' Sewell, see No. 14218, with a sinister scowl, supports his withered leg resting on a peg, by using a crutch formed of a gibbet with a dangling noose. Behind him is an overturned slop pail, see BM Satires No. 14207 surrounded with smoke. For the 'Diable Boiteux' cf. No. 10525.
5.BM Satires 14218. 'Anti-society association.' Two legs from the thigh downwards, directed to the r. One is withered and bent back from the knee supported by a peg, as in No. 14223. The legs of John Sewell, President of the Constitutional Association, are chosen for the arms of the Association.
6. BM Satires 14212. 'John Ketch. His Mark.' A gibbet is formed of a wooden leg or peg, representing Sewell's withered leg (see BM Satires No. 14223) which supports a leg at r.angles; from this dangles a corpse. This is the signature of a letter from the hangman to the Constitutional Association. Two drawings by G.C. (not used) for Sewell and his leg are in the print room 199.c/35 reverse.
7. BM Satires 14211. 'The Bridge Street gang defeated.' Charles Mackey, sweeper at Fleet Street, stands before the obelisk which serves as a post for two street lamps; he extends his hat. The title is from a placard on the obelisk. The text is a statement by the sweeper that he has refused to become a member of the Constitutional Association signed with a broom (depicted) 'His Mark.'
8. BM Satires 14208. 'The fine old subscription vessel, the Regent's Bomb.' A fantastic two-masted ship representing George IV whose profile head forms the bows (l); on the bulging poop deck the 'Regent's Bomb' see BM Satires 12799. The sails are women's gowns; bells signifying folly hang from the spars. On one flag a Royal Standard is suggested, on the other is a woman's cap. Stars (Garter) decorate the hull. She is for hire at the George and Vulture.
9.BM Satires 14220. 'A nondescript.' George IV, walking to the r., down-hill, is constructed of 'great boots,' spurred like a game-cock, a crown for the body, mitre on which are crossed canons, sceptre and a tailor's shears (cf. No. 13237) for arm and hand. Three peacock's feathers project like a tail (see No. 13299.) The text is a jumble of print. 'Great boots' are an embelem or attribute of the King in this and other satires by Hone, cf Nos. 13305, 14150, 14168. For the construction of the figure, see BM Satires volume. ix, p.xxiv.
10. BM Satires 14227. 'Jack in the green.' A satire on the Coronation. Heading to the song 'Round let us bound for this is Punch's holiday;/ Glory to Tom-Foolery!-huzza! huza! The King is Jack, his boots (see No.14220) issue from a cone of green leaves topped by garlands forming a crown, and draped with a garter ribbon. He dances between two posturing courtiers (Doodle and Noodle from Fielding's Tom Thumb cf. BM Satires No. 10680.) and two be-feathered Court ladies. Wellington (r.) beats a drum in the form of a slop pail (See BM Satires 14207.) Two chimney sweeps, fantastically dressed, caper, beating shovel and brush. John Bull, in tattered clothes, gaps at the towering mass of greenery while Vansittart picks his pocket. Slung on the latter's shoulder is a box "X Chequer". Behind him the Archbishop of Canterbury holds up a crosier to which a pair of spurs is tied. A pear shaped balloon, symbol of George IV ascends, with a basket in the form of an inverted crown; from it extend l. and r. sword and sceptre with attached pennants and the King's spurred boots. Behind is Westminster Abbey; behind Wellington, Westminster Hall; the Royal Standard flies from a staff made of the peg leg of Sewell (See BM Satires 14223.), who stands on his head on the apex of the roof. A balloon ascent from the Green Park on 19 July was part of the Coronation festivities, see BM Satires 14199 &c. Jack in the Green, a man covered by a cone of green leaves, was a May Day celebration in the London streets surviving at least to the late nineteenth century.
11. BM Satires 14209. 'Victory of Peterloo.' A monument in a black border inscribed Manchester August 16 1819. On a base bordered by skulls and flanked by shackles is an equestrian statue: one of the yeomanry slashes at prostrate figures, a woman and infant being conspicuous. The base is decorated with a crown, irradiated by daggers and bayonets. See BM Satires No. 13258 &c.
12. BM Satires 14210. 'A Peterloo Medal.'
A man dressed as a soldier but with the apron and steel of a butcher, raises an axe to smite a kneeling and ragged man, who pleads for mercy. A black border is patterned with skulls and cross-bones. Side margins: "Q. Am I not a man and a brother? A. No you are a poor weaver!" (A pastiche of the abolitionist Wedgwood medallion. See 1909.1201.260.)
13. BM Satires 14229. 'The Triangle.' Design in a black border. Castlereagh savagely scourges a naked man suspended by one wrist from a triangle formed of three converging poles. Beside him is an open coffin.See BM. Satires 14135.
14. BM Satires 14232. 'The Queen's death.' Heading to the first column of editions published after the Queen's death on 7th August 1821. In a black-bordered hatchment is a dagger, its point resting on a scroll inscribed "Persecution." The article begins: "Her Majesty died by the dagger of persecution." For the Queen's death see BM Satires Nos 14233, 14236, 14238, 14239, 14241,14243, 14255; for her funeral, see No. 14242 & c.
15. BM Satires 14213. 'Royal Cuckoo Clock.' On the dial of a wall clock stands a bird saying Cuckoo with a tail of three peacock's feathers. cf. BM Satires 13517. The pendulum is a crown, the weights are jack boots. See BM Satires No. 14022 Cuckoo (slang) = fool.
16.BM Satires 14219. 'Ferocity exemplified by comparative anatomy;'
The title continues 'or an illustration of the Facial Line in Man and the Brute showing the natural gradation from the ferocious to the human being.Three profiles (l. to r.): an ape, the Duke of Clarence and a handsome young man resembling self portraits of George Cruikshank See BM Satires 14031. A satire on the pseudo-science of physiognomy.
17. BM Satires 14226. 'A new vision by Robert Southey, Esq! LL.D!! Poet Laureate!!! &c!!!!! &c!!!!! &c!!!!! Robert Southey stands directed to the r. chanting "Sing we now Apollo's praise. From his neck a large barrel is slung. He applies a corkscrew to the hole, from which liquid inscribed "Vision of Judgement" gushes into a reversed crown. He is dressed as a medieval jester but wears a (Jesuit's) biretta decorated with a dagger and a tricolour cockade, embelems of the ex Jacobin, see BM Satires 12877. Towering above him is George IV as Apollo (as in No. 12082), playing a lyre and naked except for scanty drapery and cavalry boots (See BM Satires 14220) with peacock's feathers for spurs. One toe is poised on the base of the peg-leg of Sewell, whose legs (see BM Satires No. 14226) emerge from a steaming slop pail (see BM Satires No. 14207) in which he is immersed to the waist. The King's head is irradiated in the manner associated with Louis XIV. Heading to a parody of Southey's 'Vision of Judgement.' A violent attack on Southey, the Ministers and George IV, burlesquing Southey's unrhymed hexameters. The title in the pamphlet edition is Doctor Southey's New Vision. For Byron's Vision see BM Satires No. 14496. A signed sketch with differences, is in the BM Binyon. i. 284 (199-c.1/21 reverse.) On this are portrait heads of G.C. and Hone. Reproduced, Hackwood, William Hone, 1912. p.297.
18. BM Satires 14228. 'Borough Bridge Reform.' A view of Old London Bridge, with its 'narrow and decayed Borough Arches', is contrasted with a new bridge, of three arches inscribed respectively King, Commons (the largest), and Lords. The title in the broadside is 'Reform.'
19. BM Satires 14217 'Warren's Black Rat Blackings.' A rat (Charles Warren, of Chester Place.), standing on a Cheshire Cheese, looks at itself in the polished surface of a jack-boot (see BM Satires 14220); its reflection wears a judge's wig. This was to be the reward of 'ratting' ie. of flattery to George IV: 'By the first application of this varnish to boots.' Charles Warren was appointed Chief Justice of Chester in 1819, the last holder of the office, abolished in 1830. 'Warren's Blacking' was much advertised.
20.BM Satires 14215. 'The Magnificent Pyramid.' A pyramid rests on its apex, a crown shored up by swords, canon and bayonets. It is inscribed, reading downwards: Commons, Lords, King, the words decreasing in size. It has been completely 'Reversed' Cf 13559.
21. BM Satires 14224. 'Universal safety lamp.' A lamp globe (for gas) containing a tiny printing press, as in BM Satires No. 13296 & c., directs its rays upon five smaller darkened globes, mere 'Paris Lamps', requiring a multitude of hands to feed and trim them.' On it stands a figure of Liberty. The other lamps contain faces, two topped by coronets, two by mitres, the latter pair flanking a pear shaped globe, George IV's face which is topped by a crown.
22. BM Satires 14216. 'The new Indian Juggler.' Wellington viciously rams a sword down the mouth of Brittania, who kneels, her wrists tied behind her. Behind him is a pyramid of cannon-balls. He was a subscriber to the Association. Cf. BM Satires No 13302.
23. BM Satires 14214. 'The tenths or the King's own.' The Archbishop of Canterbury sits on a horse holding a crosier-pennant as an officer in the Tenth ('Prince of Wales's) Hussars (See BM Satires No. 14640 & c.) behind his saddle is a tithe pig; sheaves of corn represent tithes. Behind, a bishop gallops after a pig, using his crosier as a lance.
An attack on the 'higher clergy' inspired by their attitude to Peterloo and the Queen. cf BM Satires Nos 13281, 14251, 14407.
24. BM Satires 14222. 'Priestianity.' A fat, knock-kneed parson, hat in hand, stands beside his grotto, a behive-like structure of oyster shells topped by a bayonet to which a pistol is tied. Below: "Please to remember the Grotto!" Heading to a list of ten bishops who subscribe to the Anti-Social Association (See BM Satires 14221.) London children constructed their 'grottos' of oyster shells on St James' day (25 July) cf. No.8402. The practice survived into the twentieth century.
1822
Wood engraved illustrations on a letterpress pamphlet
- Production date
- 1822
- Dimensions
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Height: 220 millimetres (Approx page height sheet)
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Height: 220 millimetres (approx.page height)
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Width: 245 millimetres (Approx page width sheet)
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Width: 135 millimetres (approx.page width)
- Curator's comments
- Description from M. Dorothy George 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum.' Vol X, 1952.
Bound as part of 'Political Tracts Volume 7.' Number 7 of 10 volumes of political pamphlets, published circa 1819- 1822. Volume 7 contains slightly earlier publications dating back to 1815.
The text (in prose and verse) by Hone is dated August 2: 1821. An enlarged 13th edition was advertised, Examiner 13 Aug, 'with an additional cut' (BM Satires No. 14232). It was reissued as a pamphlet in in 1822, price 2s 6d and reprinted in 'Hone's Factiae' 1827. In this form, the illustrations are differently arranged. There is also a set of proofs on India paper of all but BM Satires No. 14227.
George's catalogue follows the order of the first state with the addition of BM Satires No. 14232, reviewed 'Examiner' 6 August 1821: 'the richest of all his [Hone's] productions.' Cf. No. 13790, Reid Nos 3126-53, 4760, 4862. Cohn No.749.
The current entry reflects the layout of the pamphlet version.
For proof, hand coloured, cut and broadsheet versions of 'A slap at slop' 2nd and 27th editions see Unmounted Roy XIX, George Cruikshank, Box 6, wrapper 14207-14232. 'A slap at slop with proofs.'
The reference on the title page to "27 cuts" may refer to the three parts of BM Satires 14221, 'The damnable association...' and the additional illustration of the broom for BM Satires 14211.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
-
Associated Event: Peterloo
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Associated Event: Death of Caroline of Brunswick
- Acquisition date
- 1865
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1865,1111.991-1017
