print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.7473
- Title
- Object: Fishing for flats or a drag from the stock exchange.
- Description
-
Fox stands on shallow steps leading from the stone gateway of the 'Treasury' (l.) to an ocean stretching to the horizon; emerging from the waves washing the lower step is a notice-board: 'Pool of Speculation'. He is pulling up a drag-net containing men. A large paper on the net indicates the bait: 'Peace within a Fortnight'. The men (stock-brokers, &c.) have papers inscribed 'Omnium' [twice], 'Scrip', and '4 Pr Cents'. A curving line of floats shows that the net extends far out to sea. On the horizon (r.) is a coastline suggesting a range of icebergs; this is 'The Land of Promise'. Behind Fox other Ministers haul at the rope: Petty, immediately behind him, then Sheridan and Howick. Fox and Sheridan wear sea-boots. Behind are two unidentified heads. Fox says: "Haul away my lads - I told you the Bait would do - I dont think I have had better luck at an experiment, since I commene'd Fisherman!!" 25 July 1806
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1806
- Dimensions
-
Height: 246 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', VIII, 1947)
Fox is accused of circulating rumours of peace in order to raise the price of the funds, especially of Omnium, the stocks in which a government loan was funded. Negotiations, see BMSat 10489, had been carried on since March, with 'repeated tergiversations' on the part of France (Fox's dispatch to Yarmouth, 3 Aug.). They finally broke down at the beginning of October, Lauderdale reaching England on 12 Oct. Cobbett announced, 23 Aug.: 'The Negociation is probably at an end by this time, to the great mortification of the gentlemen in the funds [but see BMSat 10604], it being a matter of perfect indifference to everybody else.' 'Pol. Reg.' x. 270. For peace prospects and the Stock Exchange see also BMSats 10586, 10588, 10593, 10594, 10604.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.7473