print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.7461
- Title
- Object: A grand country dance.
- Description
-
A French dancing-master (l.), holding up his 'kit' or dancing-master's fiddle and bow at arm's length, addresses a group of representative British characters (r.). He says: "Monsieur, Sare, every ting depend pon lam to dance, widout dat you can do no ting at all in dis Worlt, for if you will get a Wife wid great deal Money, eh by Gar! you must dance away to Scotland, if you run in debt ver much, eh by Gar you must dance away from your Creditor, if you want a place from de great Lor, eh by Gar you must dance attendance, oh all de World dance every day, de Frenchman he dance after de Liberté, de Spaniard he dance away from Lor Nelson, den Lor Nelson dance after him, de Italian he dance to de Opera, den dance away wid your Money de Alderman he dance after de Turtle, so voila all de World von grand contré dance." A burly well-dressed Irish fortune-hunter says gloomily: "Arrah my dear Honey! and haven't I danced all the way from Sligo in order to pick up a Tight little partner to Jigg it to Scotland with me, and pay the piper into the bargain by Jasus to be sure I have." A raffish man, in ill-fitting clothes of fashionable intention, says: "Thats a Devilish good Hint, Monseer, so I'll lead off, without waiting for a partner, or some of my Creditors will be for Calling the Dance." A fat ugly 'cit' says: "O dear Heart! I could dance 20 miles after Turtle, in spite of the Gout." He raises one gouty foot in a slashed shoe. A bare-footed Scot takes snuff, saying, "Ah! the Mon says Vary true, I have been dancing attendance on a great Laird these twa Year and ha got nothing but promises. I be na so lucky as my Friend Johnny M'Cree" [Melville, see BMSat 10378]. A sturdy sailor ('Jack Bull'), taking a quid from his tobacco-box, looks with fierce appraisal at the Frenchman, and says: "They have led us a preetty dance sure enough, but shiver my timbers if we Won't make [sic] sing out for it when we do catch them". Behind (r.), a capering French opera dancer holds up a full purse, saying, "Good bye Jack Bull I go dance home wid de Guiné!" After the title: '"Thus Life is like a Country Dance, the World a spacious Ball Room'' - Dibdin'. July 1805?
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1805
- Dimensions
-
Height: 250 millimetres
-
Width: 354 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
The allusion to Nelson's dance after Spanish ships must refer to his chase of Villeneuve, see BMSat 10422. 'Johnny M'Cree' supports this date.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.7461
