print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.7451
- Title
- Object: Israelites passing through the Red Sea
- Description
-
Trotter walks (l. to r.), carrying on his houlders Lord Melville in Highland dress. He is on rocky ground, menaced on both sides and behind by curling waves, which tower above them. In the waves, and about to be dashed against Melville, is a large foaming tankard of 'Whitbread Entire' [see BMSat 10421]. Four fish, with human heads wearing judge's wigs with bands, swim towards him. Those on the r. are Erskine and Ellenborough. Melville says: "Trot on my dear Friend be carfull do not blunder those monsters watch us so closely they will devour me if you let me fall." Trotter says: "Set with confidence Harry dona be afraid mon I will carry you safe." He has a paper: 'a safe Pass, indemnified.' On the rocks and partly covered by waves, are emblems of the Navy: a bale of 'Stores' inscribed 'M', a 'Navy Chest', and an anchor; there are also a large shell and a crab. 15 May 1806
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1806
- Dimensions
-
Height: 344 millimetres
-
Width: 245 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
Melville's impeachment, opened by Whitbread, began on 29 Apr. in Westminster Hall; at the end of the proceedings the peers discussed the evidence with closed doors, and certain questions were submitted to the judges (here depicted): Erskine (who presided), Ellenborough, Sir James Mansfield, and Sir Archibald Macdonald. For the indemnity to Trotter and other witnesses see BMSat 10402; for the impeachment see BMSat 10576, &c.; for the proceedings in 1805 see BMSat 10377, &c.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.7451
