- Museum number
- 1868,0808.5408
- Title
- Object: (Fox) singing a song to the P-e of W-l-s.
- Description
-
A fox represents the first word of the title. Fox (left) and the Prince of Wales (right) sit opposite each other playing cards at a circular table.
Each holds a wine-glass; on the table are guineas, cards, and a bottle. The Prince asks, "Fox, are not you the Shuffler?" Fox sings (the words in a label issuing from his mouth):
1
"Tho' matters at present go cross in the Realm,
You will one day be K--g Sir, and I at the helm;
So let us be jovial, drink, gamble and sing,
Nor regard it a straw, tho' we're not yet the thing.
Tol-de-rol, Tol, Tol, Tol-de-rol.
2
The proverb informs us, Each dog has his day,
So those that oppose us, this Fate must obey,
But time's on our side Sir, and now on the wing,
To make me a Statesman and you Sir the K--g.
Tol-de-rol, Tol, Tol, Tol-de-rol.
3
In vain are harangues, I as well may be dumb,
And let motions alone, till our day Sir, is come.
Then Thurlow & Pitt, from their State we will fling,
They may go below stairs Sir, so we are the thing.
Tol-de-rol, Tol, Tol, Tol-de-rol.
4
Thus seated in state Sir, we'll fill all our Soul,
At the Fountain of Venus, at Bacchus's bowl,
In all that we please Sir, we'll take a full swing
For who's to controul a Prime Statesman and King?
Tol-de-rol, Tol, Tol, Tol-de-rol." January 1785
Etching
- Production date
- 1785
- Dimensions
-
Height: 248 millimetres
-
Width: 346 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
An indication of the completeness of Pitt's victory in 1784 (cf. BMSat 6671, &c). For the relations between Fox and the Prince cf. BMSat 6237, 6401, &c. For the Regency crisis, when this prophecy seemed on the point of fulfilment, see BMSat 7377, &c. Cf. BMSat 6795.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.5408