- Museum number
- 1868,0808.12664
- Title
- Object: Princely predilections or ancient music and modern discord.
- Description
-
Plate from the 'Scourge', iii. 259. It is not referred to in the text, but there are articles on 'The Prince Regent and the Opposition', and on 'The Noble Adulterer' (on Wellesley and Polly Raffle). The Regent, tipsy and much caricatured, stands among old and new friends; other groups fill a large room with a musicians' gallery (right), where Catalani, a woman with a cat's head, is in front, attempting to sing from a large volume: 'Ancient Music Part first'. The figures below, stretching across the design, pay no attention to the gallery, except for words issuing from inconspicuous heads in the background: "Hiss sss . . . Hisssss . . off off Hiss Hissss—No Catalani . . Hiss ss . . Off No Catalani." She says: "Hiss not de Talent & de innoshensh!" The musicians have stopped playing and register dismay. The Prince's dress is disordered, his stockings ungartered, his Garter inscribed 'Honi soit' hanging loose. He is supported by a very small woman (? the Duchess of York, cf. No. 7927), and McMahon puts a bottle of 'Curacoa' to his lips. The latter's face is hidden by the Prince's arm; from his head sprout antlers, and his identity is shown by a large 'Privy Purse' hanging from his pocket, with a paper inscribed 'Widows Friend' [see No. 11874]. On his left stands Lady Hertford, regal and composed, holding the 'Leading Strings' which are round his waist. On the other side stands a sharp-featured lady wearing a miniature inscribed 'L. Howe'; she asks: "Well: since you have got rid of your Old Friends Howe do you like your New Ones? [cf. No. 12081]." The Prince: "Not at all. D—N them! Not at all!!!!" Lady Hertford says: "Friends indeed! you will always meet with a warm friend in Hertford." She wears a crown-like marquis's coronet with an aigrette; a heart hangs on her neck from a jewelled chain. The ends of the leading-strings she holds are held by a debauched-looking cupid (cf. No. 11904) at her feet who bestrides his arrow, wearing breeches and top-boots. Over her shoulder looks Lord Hertford, a scowling man wearing horns. At her side (right) stands Erskine wearing a tam-o'-shanter, but holding an opera-hat; he points to her, saying: "Behold the gracious Quean of Love." He wears (though he was not K.T. till 1815) a star and knee-breeches with the addition of a very short kilt, plaid stockings, and a sporran inscribed 'I I I I meme' [indicating his egotism, see No. 9246, &c.]. Behind and between Lady Howe and McMahon stands the Duke of Cumberland in hussar uniform; he looks melancholy and holds a paper inscribed 'Am I not a Man and a Br[other].' Over the Prince's left shoulder looks Mrs. Fitz-herbert, her face in shadow (cf. No. 11856). These figures form the centre
group.
On the left stands Perceval, much burlesqued, wearing his official gown, and watching the Regent with pained surprise; at his feet is a book inscribed 'The Book'. Behind him and on the extreme left a plainly dressed parson in back view talks to an elderly doctor who sucks his cane. From the former's pocket project 'Bidlake's Poems'; he holds a paper: 'Sermon on Drunkeness Sunday next'; the latter says: 'That comes Home to him,' showing that he is Everard Home, see No. 11763. (John Bidlake was a Chaplain to the Regent and the Duke of Clarence, and published poetical and religious works.) Behind and between Perceval and Lady Howe, Death, a crowned skeleton wearing clothes, marches off arm-in-arm with Lord Liverpool in a manner perhaps satirizing the latter's 'march to Paris', see No. 9726; from his spear hangs a streamer inscribed 'Walchren'. Near them is Lord Melville in Highland dress, wearing a tam-o'-shanter.
Princess Charlotte stands on the right, wiping her eyes as if weeping with childish unrestraint. She holds a paper: 'C—lt—m [sic] House Sunday—1812 Apology to Lord Lauderdale. My Lord I ask pardon.' She, too, is in 'Leading Strings', and these are held by a burlesqued bishop, his mitre perched on an absurd wig. He stands with his back to her and is evidently her preceptor, John Fisher of Salisbury. The Princess's tears attract the attention of Wellesley who is in oriental dress with a star inscribed 'Eastern Star'. He holds up a forefinger, his arm round the neck of a woman with a paper inscribed 'Lady Raffels Rout'. (His mistress was Moll Raffles (see No. 12081, cf. No. 13461; according to the 'Scourge', iii. 267-70, Polly Raffle).) She laughs at the Princess. A fat John Bull, who has just entered (right), looks at the Princess in dismayed surprise, shedding sympathetic tears. Just behind him is Sheridan in very tattered Harlequin's dress (cf. No. 9916); he furtively picks John's pocket, extracting a large purse, 'Bulls Purse'; he holds a comic mask. The Duke of York, in uniform, followed by a lady (? Mrs. Carey) enters behind Sheridan. On a settee by the door is a stout man wearing a star (? the Duke of Kent) staring at the Princess with pained surprise.
Below the musicians' gallery hangs a long picture; in the centre is the Regent, Bacchus-like, astride a cask of 'Curacoa'. He throws an arm over the neck of an ass, while a crowned woman, her breasts exposed, proffers a goblet. He extends his left toe to Erskine who grovels at his feet. The profile of Queen Charlotte peers from behind the ass, looking towards Death, a crowned skeleton who drags forward Lord Chatham, who tramples on an anchor (see No. 11533). Behind the crowned woman is Perceval (left) pointing her out to Lord Eldon, behind whom is Wellesley, a turbaned figure registering surprise. Flat on the ground lies Sheridan, as Harlequin, drinking from a bottle. On the extreme right a naked and antlered figure (? Hertford) plays fife and tabor.
1 April 1812
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1812
- Dimensions
-
Height: 212 millimetres
-
Width: 494 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', IX, 1949)
One of many satires on the Regent's desertion of the Whigs, an exception being Erskine, and on the influence of Lady Hertford, see No. 11853. The title is an allusion to the famous letter to the Duke of York, see No. 11855: 'I have no predilection to indulge, no resentments to gratify . . .' (see Nos. 11869, 11887). The political exploitation of the Princess of Wales was foreshadowed on 23 Mar., when Perceval was taunted with his support of her in 'The Delicate Investigation' of 1806 when he compiled 'The Book' in her defence, see No. 11990, &c. 'Parl. Deb.' xxii. 135-40. Liverpool and Chatham are attacked for the terrible mortality at Walcheren, see No. 11536. For quarrels between the Prince and the Duke of Cumberland see Fulford, 'Royal Dukes', 1933, p. 210 f. Princess Charlotte weeps as she had done at Carlton House on 22 Feb. when the Regent furiously attacked the Whigs and was answered by Lauderdale, who restated his views in a letter next day. 'Corr. of George IV', i. 26 f. Her tears were made memorable by Byron's verses ('Weep daughter of a Royal line'). [First published in the 'Morning Chronicle', 7 Mar. 1812, as 'A Sympathetic Address to a Young Lady'.] For Sheridan's pocket-picking cf. No. 11767, &c. 'The Concerts of Antient Music' at the Hanover Square Rooms were regularly attended by the royal family, cf. No. 7163.
Reid, No. 155. Cohn, No. 732.
(Supplementary information)
This print is the first issue of the plate to part 16 of volume 3 of the Scourge, 'printed and published by W. N. Jones, the Proprietor, No. 5 Newgate Street, 1811 [1812]'.
The uncoloured impressions not folded, showing that it was issued separately.
The stout gentleman in green and wearing the star, seated at right, suggested by George as the Duke of Kent, could perhaps be the royal oculist Jonathan Wathen Phipps, later Sir Wathen Waller; see his portrait at the National Portrait Gallery for comparison (NPG D38014; information supplied by Ruth Hayward, via email). He became a friend to the royal family and in October 1812 married Lady Howe, shown in the print with the Duke of Cumberland.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
1992 Sep-Oct, London, Order of St John Museum, Cruikshank 200
1992 Nov-Dec, Burnley, Townley Hall AG & Museum, Cruikshank 200
1993 Jan-Feb, Maidsone Museum & AG, Cruikshank 200
1993 Feb-April, Sheffield, Graves AG, Cruikshank 200
- Associated names
-
Associated with: John Bidlake
-
Associated with: Angelica Catalani
-
Associated with: Princess Charlotte of Wales
-
Associated with: Charlotte, Queen of George III
-
Associated with: John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon
-
Associated with: Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover
-
Associated with: John Fisher, Bishop of Salisbury
-
Associated with: Maria Anne Fitzherbert
-
Associated with: Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Catherine of Prussia, Duchess of York
-
Associated with: Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany and Bishop of Osnabrück
-
Associated with: George IV, King of the United Kingdom
-
Associated with: Francis Ingram Seymour, 2nd Marquess of Hertford
-
Associated with: Isabella, Marchioness of Hertford
-
Associated with: Sir Everard Home
-
Associated with: Sophia Charlotte Howe
-
Associated with: Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool
-
Associated with: Right Hon Sir John McMahon
-
Associated with: Robert Saunders Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
-
Associated with: Right Hon Spencer Perceval
-
Associated with: Moll Raffles
-
Associated with: Richard Brinsley Sheridan
-
Associated with: Richard Colley Wellesley, Marquess Wellesley
-
Associated with: Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (?)
-
Associated with: Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
-
Portrait of: Sir Jonathan Wathen Waller, 1st Baronet (?)
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Scourge
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.12664
