print;
satirical print;
book-illustration
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.10039
- Title
- Object: The present times, or the nabobs Cl-ve and C-l-ke brought to account
- Description
-
Two men (r.) kneeling in supplication before Lord North (l.) who stands with a pistol in his right. hand, about to take the large money-bags which the two 'nabobs', Clive and Colebrooke, hold out to him. Colebrooke, a very small man, is saying: "Save us my Lord or we Perish"; from his pocket hangs a paper inscribed "Job in the Alley 30,000£". On Colebrooke's r. is Clive saying: "You shall have the tenth of my jaghire" (this was the quit-rent given to Clive by Mir Jaffier amounting to nearly £30,000 a year which the Directors had limited to ten years). Each has an iron band round his neck to which a chain is attached which is held in the mouth of a demon in the foreground. Another chain from its mouth is attached to North's wrist. North stands on a paper inscribed "India Stock no Price". He is saying: "I know the vileness of your deeds! But I must have more hush Money". From his pocket hangs a paper inscribed "Report of the Secret Committee". Justice, a blindfolded woman holding scales with her sword raised to strike, hovers in the air behind this group. Bute, holding out a highlander's target and with a sword in his left hand, stands to protect the three men from the sword of justice; he wears a kilt and the Garter ribbon, and his face is covered with a mask to show that his influence is secret. Above the design is engraved: "A new Scene for the Proprietors of India Stock". Below the title is engraved: "Deel awa wi em Au R------gues all alike, Bribers and Bribed." 1 May 1773
Etching
- Production date
- 1773
- Dimensions
-
Height: 169 millimetres
-
Width: 105 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 'Oxford Magazine', x. 144.
The plate anticipates the great debates in which Clive defended himself from the accusations in the Secret Committee on the East India Company, see 'Parl. Hist.' xvii. 850 ff. He said "Jaghires were as commonly given [by Indian princes] as pensions, lottery tickets and other douceurs by the minister in this." Clive is called the Jaghire Factor in BMSat 5102, Baron Jaghire in BMSat 5144. Cf. "Protestation" in 'London Magazine', 1773, p. 44, beginning, "You I love my dearest wife", has the line, "More than Clive his black Jagheer." Quoted, G. E. C. 'Complete Peerage', i. 1910. Appendix H.
Also,
"Secure from Wars and dangerous Seas
Colonel Jaghire enjoys his Ease
Buys Land, and Beeves, with Indian Gold,
Which some poor English 'Squire has sold."
C. Anstey, 'Election Ball'. 1776, p.7
See also BMSat 5100, 5102.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.10039