print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.3649
- Title
- Object: The Motion
- Description
-
Satire on opposition tactics in the parliamentary motion to remove Robert Walpole from office showing a coach drawn by six horses moving at speed towards the river Thames. A running footman in front has not been identified, but the postillion on the leading horse is identified in BM Satires 2479 as Lord Chesterfield; the coach is driven by the Duke of Argyll between whose legs sits a spotted dog with the word "Bubb" lettered on its collar, i.e.,Bubb Doddington; Lord Carteret leans out of the coach shouting to the diriver, "John, if you drive so fast you'll overset us all by G-d"; the footmen standing behind are the Bishops of Lincoln and Lichfield, one of whom cries "Ora pro nobis"; George Lyttelton gallops up behind. In the background is the wall of Walpole's mansion in Chelsea; the tower of All Saints' church (Chelsea Old Church) visible beyond a sailing barge. 1741
Etching and engraving
- Production date
- 1740
- Dimensions
-
Height: 222 millimetres
-
Width: 400 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- The motion for an address requesting the king to remove Walpole from his counsels was proposed in the House of Commons by Samuel Sandys on 13 February 1741 and in the Lords by Carteret, Earl Granville, with the suppoort of the Duke of Argyll. It was lost when a large number of tories withdrew leaving the whig opposition isolated.
Stephens quotes a letter from Horace Walpole of 25 March 1741: "I have received a print by this post that diverts me extremely 'The Motion'. Tell me, dear, now, who made the design, and who took the likenesses; they are admirable; the lines are as good as one sees on such occasions"; Stephens suggests that this is a reference to BM Satires 2479, but it is much more likely that Walpole was referring to BM Satires 2478 where the drawing, attributed to Gravelot, is far superior.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.3649
