print;
satirical print;
puzzle-picture
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.4672
- Title
- Object: The humble petition of (Temple Bar) to some of the heads of the nation
- Description
-
Etchings of Temple Bar and portrait heads of Lord George Germain, Lord Sandwich, and Lord North form part of the title. On Temple Bar are three spikes, ready for the heads of the three ministers.
"May it Please ye,
'Tis very (well) (key)nown [known] (bee)y Some People al(hive)
Some Honors (eye) had from the (ear) Forty f(hive),
When (oar) my (bee)road (gate) Re(bell) (heads) did ap(pear)
(Yew) sure cant forget Fletch(ear) (Town)ley (hand) L(ear),
(Butt) (Time) has A(lass) (awl) my Honors de(key)'d.
My (spikes) (hare) (awl) (bear) (toe) the (world) now d(eye)splay'd,
(Knot) a (tray)tor is (hang)'d my sad loss to re(pear)
Tho' enough now (die)serve it (eye) vow (hand) (die) clare:
(Toe) (yew) who preside (hat) the (head) of the Nat(eye)on
(Eye) send this (pea)tition for some Consolat(eye)on,
Let my (ornament)s once again r(eye)se (toe) the Sight
Twill fill (awl) the (people) with Joy (hand) del(eye)ght;
Lord (Boar)as [Boreas], Tw(eye)tcher (hand) Min(den) (will) do,
(Eye)f once they were placed (inn) a (capitol) (view)!
(Eye)f this yew (comb)ply w(eye)th no more I(hive) (toe) say
(Butt) t(hat) eye (inn) duty Bound ever (will) Pray."
(Temple Bar) 16 April 1780
Etching
- Production date
- 1780
- Dimensions
-
Height: 347 millimetres
-
Width: 221 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
One of several appeals for the execution of members of the Ministry, based doubtless on attacks made in the House of Commons by Fox and others. See BMSat 5661, and cf. BMSat 5964, 5969, 6046. The Jacobites Towneley and Fletcher were executed at Kennington 30 July 1746, see BMSat 2799; theirs were the last heads exposed on Temple Bar. 'Lear' is perhaps Alexander Leith, a Jacobite executed on 28 Nov. 1746.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.4672