- Museum number
- 1868,0808.11417
- Title
-
Object: Political Frankensteins.
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Series: Political Sketches
- Description
-
No. 105. Below the title: 'Alarmed at the Progress of a Giant of their own Creation'. A narrow stream represents the Irish Channel; on its right Anglesey and Stanley attempt to restrain a gigantic O'Connell from walking forwards, by a large document headed 'PROCLAMATION | Anglesey | Whereas', which they press against him. O'Connell silently holds up a paper, 'Repeal of the Union'; in his left hand he holds 'Agitation' within the letter of the Law. (He is a monster produced by human machinations.) Anglesey: 'He walks thro' it with the greatest ease'. Stanley: 'This is even worse than being Hunted out of Preston' [see BM Satires No. 16539]. Plunket, kilting up his Chancellor's gown to put his hand in his pocket, stands close behind Anglesey; he says: 'Never mind I have got another ready made in my pocket'. On the left of the water stand Grey and Althorp; the former, clenching his fist, says: 'He must be stopped at all Hazards'; the latter drops a paper: 'Bill to prohibit the growth of Tobacco in Ireland'. Peel claps Grey on the shoulder, saying, 'That's right!' Brougham, on the extreme left, in barrister's wig and gown, says: 'At all hazards!—I dont like the phrase it implies danger!!' Wellington, behind, walks to the left, saying, 'Good Generalship may be shewn in a well timed retreat'. Two speeches float from the left margin: 'It must be admitted that we have got business enough in hand; You may cheer people on Mr P—, to combat this monstrous antagonist which you yourself have been mainly instrumental in rearing to his present proportions when you might have stopped his growth with a few yards of silk!' 18 January 1831
Lithograph
- Production date
- 1831
- Dimensions
-
Height: 287 millimetres
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Width: 383 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', XI, 1954)
O'Connell, leading an agitation for repeal of the Union, defied the law, though acknowledging it to the extent of altering the names of Associations as soon as they were prohibited. It was announced that the Dublin trades were to march through the city on 27 Dec. in his honour. Anglesey (see No. 16395) issued a proclamation on 25 Dec. prohibiting the procession as likely to disturb the peace. O'Connell formed a new society, ostensibly to protect the right of petitioning, and Anglesey issued a second proclamation on 7 Jan. A third and a fourth followed on 10 and 13 Jan. O'Connell was arrested, 18 Jan., tried, pleaded guilty (February), and was thought to have been worsted, but the Government, wanting his support for the Reform Bill, dropped proceedings. See 'Melbourne's Papers', ed. L. C. Sanders, 1889, pp. 177 ff. On 23 Dec. Althorp had announced the postponement (to 3 Feb.) of a Bill for prohibiting the cultivation of tobacco in Ireland. 'Parl. Deb.', 3rd s. ii. 102. For O'Connell's silk gown cf. No. 15367; for Frankenstein, Nos. 14311, 16991. Brougham notoriously lacked physical courage, cf. 'Don Juan'; Greville, 'Memoirs', 1938, iii. 179, and No. 16794. See also Nos. 16545, 16552, 16553, 16557, 16563, 16571, 16572, 17236, 17239.
Reproduced, Alington, 'Twenty Years', 1921, p. 146; Trevelyan, 'William IV', pl. xii.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.11417
