print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.5783
- Title
- Object: Flight to Switzerland with his Woman and Faithful Black
- Description
-
Fox, seated on the back of the Devil, flies (left to right) across the Channel; behind him sits Mrs. Armstead clasping his shoulders; both smile with cunning satisfaction. Behind the couple floats a bushy fox's brush. From Fox's coat-pocket protrude two dice-boxes containing dice and a label: 'Subscription'. From the water (left) emerges the head of Lord John Townshend, saying, "My dear Friend, don't leave me in the Lurch, I can scarce keep chin above Water, and if they bear down upon me I shall certainly Sink". The water surrounding him is littered with torn scrolls inscribed 'Perjury', 'Bribery', 'Subornation', 'Corruption', 'Expences', 'Violence' (cf. BMSats 7352, 7366, &c). A ship in full sail approaches, flying a pennant inscribed 'Petition'. On the coast (right) are three adjacent scenes placed diagonally, left to right: [1] inscribed 'Landed', is headed 'Refreshing with right Geneva [gin]'. Mrs. Armstead drinks from a bottle; the Devil stands beside her with a glass, one hand on her shoulder. [2] The next scene is 'Settling the Election expences': Fox stands at a gaming-table, throwing dice with three men of French appearance. [3] On the extreme right Fox leads Mrs. Armstead through a doorway with the inscription 'Neat Lodgings'; a bunch of grapes (a tavern sign) hangs over it, indicating a brothel. On the house, and above Mrs. Armstead, is a placard: 'To be let and entered immediately'. This is called 'Going with a convenient Friend to a convenient House'. The two adjacent scenes are bracketed as 'Ways and Means'. (Cf. BMSat 7902.) 15 August 1788
Etching with hand-colouring
- Production date
- 1788
- Dimensions
-
Height: 214 millimetres
-
Width: 387 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938)
After the election, see BMSat 7339, &c, Fox went with Mrs. Armstead to Switzerland. Gibbon wrote (4 Oct.): 'The man of the people escaped from the bloody tumult of the Westminster Election to the lakes and mountains of Switzerland, . . . the wit and beauty of his Companion are not sufficient to excuse the scandalous impropriety of shewing her to all Europe. . . .' 'Letters', 1896, ii. 179-80. Cf. BMSat 7379, a similar print on Fox's return.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.5783
