print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.5153
- Title
- Object: The contents of the sneezing bag analyzed for the information of the king's arm's committee
- Description
-
A bust portrait of Fox sneezing violently. In the lower left corner of the design an open bag, partly cut off by the margin of the print, alls to the ground, inscribed 'Cabinet Bag' for 1783. The ingredients of the sneeze are indicated by words radiating from Fox's face: 'Euphorbium', 'Coalition', 'Capsicum', 'Receipt Tax', 'India Bill', 'Violation of Charters', 'Cromwell's Ambition', 'Cataline's Abilities', 'Damiens Loyalty', 'Machiavels Politics'. Beneath Fox is etched:
'Whereas some d------d Rogues have been guilty of Treason
In making me sneeze when I wanted to reason
And whereas it appears upon Analization
That this Bag's vile Contents wou'd have poison'd a Nation
And whereas tho' the Scheme has for once been defeated
The Dose may at some future Time be repeated
I conjure my Constituents wherever they be
To take Care of themselves, and be careful of me.' 27 February 1784
Etching
- Production date
- 1784
- Dimensions
-
Height: 189 millimetres
-
Width: 143 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
During the struggle in Westminster Hall on 14 Feb. between the supporters of Fox and Wray for the possession of the hustings, a man threw in Fox's face a leather bag, supposed at first to contain assafoetida, which proved to be euphorbium. 'Hist. of the Westminster Elections', p. 61. Fox was shouted down: 'No Grand Mogul! No India Tyrant! No Usurper! No Turncoat! No Traitor! No Dictator! No Cataline!' 'Parl. Hist.' xxiv. 666. See BMSat 6421, &c, 6432, 6437, 6465, 6481, 6627. For the Receipt Tax, see BMSat 6244, &c; for the India Bill, BMSat 6368, &c; for Fox as India Tyrant, see BMSat 6276, &c; as Cromwell, BMSat 6380, &c; as Catiline, BMSat 6784, &c.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.5153
