print;
satirical print;
book-illustration
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.10024
- Title
- Object: The state hackney coach
- Description
-
A richly carved glass-coach, surmounted by cupids holding a crown is being driven (r. to left.) on a road which leads past buildings to the Tower of London. Inside is the king leaning back fast asleep. At the back stands a devil holding reins attached to a bit in the mouth of the coachman, in his other hand is a whip with a long lash. His feet rest on the heads of two carved figures, one being Neptune with his trident. Above is engraved, "They go fast whom the Devil drives". The place of the horses is taken by eight running men, reins being attached to bits in their mouths. 1 January 1773
Etching
- Production date
- 1773
- Dimensions
-
Height: 113 millimetres
-
Width: 178 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
From the 'London Magazine', xli. 589. It illustrates 'A Dialogue between a Politician and a Chinese'.
The coachman is Lord North, the man-horses being the ministers or 'king's friends'. They are poorly characterized, and the only two who can be identified are Lord Holland (or perhaps Charles Fox, see BMSat 4859, 4892) with a fox's head, the near leader, and Dyson or 'Mungo' as a negro in a striped suit, see BMSat 4962, &c, the near wheeler. In front of him is a man holding a thistle, indicative of Scottish influence. The text explains that the harnessed men, since they "submit their necks to the yoke of slavery, bridled, harnessed and obeying the lash", are on a level with "beasts of burden or hackney horses". The occupant of the coach being "fond of his ease and careless of his interest and power, his servants drive him where they list". Cf. BMSat 5132, &c.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.10024