print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.11727
- Title
-
Object: The half-way house.
-
Series: Political Sketches
- Description
-
No. 410. In front of an inn, lettered with 'Bedford Arms' and 'Half Way House.', a man standing at left (Lord Russell), holding a jug in his right hand, handing a glass to a coachman seated on a coach (John Bull), watched by four men on horseback, making remarks (next to the coach, Daniel O'Connell and Joseph Hume; to far right, Duke of Newcastle and Lord Winchelsea). 29 August 1835
Lithograph
- Production date
- 1835
- Dimensions
-
Height: 276 millimetres
-
Width: 379 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Text from 'An Illustrative Key to the Political Sketches of H.B.', London 1841:
There is a saying of Horne Tooke which is very often repeated, and particularly by political speakers and writers, that, if your companion intends to go to Windsor while you are going only to Hounslow, there is no reason why you should not accept his company so far as you are going the same road. The present sketch has an allusion to this well-known saying. Lord John Russell has opened a place of entertainment, called the Half-way House, and has distinguished it by the sign of the Bedford Arms. John Bull has got so far on his journey, and is taking the refreshment which the landlord is offering under the name of half-and-half, being a mixture, of Irish stout and Scotch ale, in allusion to Mr. O'Connell and Mr. Hume. These two gentlemen are standing on the other side of John Bull, the latter advising John to drink the proffered beverage, but promising something stronger bye-and-bye; while the latter depreciates the liquor, by a comparison with the stuff which he is brewing. The Duke of Newcastle and Lord Winchelsea are riding away, quite shocked at the vitiated taste of their old friend.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.11727