print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.5312
- Title
- Object: The disappointed candidate solus!!
- Description
-
Sir Cecil Wray in the foreground, standing on the edge of a circular platform, looks down over his left shoulder at the procession which is chairing Fox round Covent Garden. He holds his right hand to his mouth, in his left he clutches a paper, 'Instruction to make A Speech'. The heads and shoulders of the procession appear over the edge of the platform: in front (left) are men on horse-back, some playing musical instruments, their hats decorated with favours and leaves. (They appear to represent the 'squadron of gentlemen on horseback in the blue and buff uniform', who were followed by trumpeters. 'London Chronicle', 18 May.) Their flag is inscribed 'The Whig Cause'. Next come men on foot immediately in front of Fox, with a flag inscribed 'Man of the People'. Fox, smiling, is seated above the heads of his supporters, his chair wreathed with laurel branches. The striped jacket of one of his bearers shows that he is a butcher; next comes Sam House. Behind walk men, some wearing their hats, which are decorated with favours and foxes' brushes. Their flag is inscribed 'Sacred to Female Patriotism'.
Behind (right) is the façade of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, the pediment inscribed 'House of Call for Candidates'. The windows of the houses on the south of the Piazza (left) are crowded with spectators; others stand on the roofs waving their hats.
Beneath the title are the words spoken by Wray: "I am Bit D------n the Fox, the D------ss, Chelsea Hospital, Maid Servants, Small Beer, the back Stairs & all together, to be Sure I'm no Speaker Ive no Head I shall not be brought in but the Scrutiny His M-----y will have that and that Bald Pated Son of a B------h Sam H-----se [House] not content with giving my
Opponent [sic] Plumpers Threatned to give me A Plumper in each Eye if I did not Cock my Hat t'other Way." 20 May 1784
Etching
- Production date
- 1784
- Dimensions
-
Height: 352 millimetres
-
Width: 249 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
The actual procession on 17 May, much more extensive than is shown here, carried the flags depicted, with others: 'The Rights of the Commons' and 'Independence!', and was followed by the state carriages of the Duchesses of Devonshire and Portland drawn by six horses, and each attended by six running footmen. See newspapers. For the allusions in Wray's speech see BMSat 6475, 6492, 6564, 6592, &c.; for his defeat BMSat 6562, &c.; for the scrutiny, BMSat 6553, &c. For the influence of the Duchess of Devonshire see BMSat 6588, &c. For the procession on 17 May see BMSat 6593. 6600, p. 140.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.5312