print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.4872
- Title
- Object: Justice Wrig-ts a coming or secretary E.O. alias Reynard put to flight
- Description
-
Gamblers at an E. O. table disturbed by a peace-officer with a stick who attempts to force open a door (right) which a man inside tries to hold shut. The circular table and two overturned chairs are the only furniture of the room. Fox, as a fox, wearing a coat and wig and with human hands, stands by the table (right) looking over his shoulder at the door, saying, "what's the Devil coming for me before my time". The peace-officer says, "Open the door you Gamblers"; the man holding it shut looks round saying, "be quick Gents I'm over power'd". On the farther side of the table are three men: next Fox, an officer wearing a cockaded hat and epaulettes says, "O Reynard the Hounds are after you in full cry". The other two are running in profile to the left, the foremost saying, "by Jupiter open the back door the Justice is here". In front of the table and on the left a short stout gambler in profile to the right holds his ground, his hands on the table, saying, "pray help gentlemen". On the floor at his feet lies a candle-stick, the candle broken but still burning. 19 August 1782
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1782
- Dimensions
-
Height: 175 millimetres
-
Width: 248 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
As a result of a petition from the justices of Middlesex and Westminster, on the great number of E.O. tables in public gaming-houses in Westminster, the harm which they did and the ineffectiveness of the laws against gaming to deal with the game of E. O., a Bill was brought in "to prevent gaming", after which the justices immediately raided gaming-houses and destroyed tables, apparently acting on the orders of Townshend, the Secretary of State. See 'Parl. Hist.' xxiii, pp. 110-13, and cf. Wraxall, 'Memoirs', 1884, ii, pp. 14 f. See also BMSat 5928, 6118, 6120.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.4872
