- Museum number
- 1868,0808.7701
- Title
- Object: Patriotic-petitions on the convention.
- Description
-
Four designs on one plate, without dividing lines. [1] 'The Cockney Petition! - Enter - Mr Noodle & Mr Doodle - .' The King sits on the throne on a small round dais, in back view, only his left hand, r. elbow (with the sceptre) and feet being visible. Two petitioners, hat in hand, bow low, in profile to the right. and to the left. The former says: "humble Petition my Liege"; the King puts out his left hand with a gesture of rejection, saying, "Petition Me no such Petition's Mr Noodle." He is Waithman, a Common Councillor the mover of the petition. To the other, Alderman Charles Flower (Lord Mayor 1809), the seconder, he says: "No Knighting to day Mr Doodle!" The aldermen in their gowns are in the background facing the King, in two groups of four; with the left. group is also the Recorder (Silvester) reading the 'Cockney Petition'.
[2] 'The Westminster Petition - a kick-out from Wimbleton.' The would-be petitioners have invaded Horne Tooke's bedroom, and are being kicked out by Burdett. Tooke lies in bed, saying, "Out with 'em! they are too Bad for Us." The head of his bed is decorated with (guardian) angels (cf. BMSat 8132). Burdett, flourishing a (breaking) 'Club of Reform' [cf. BMSat 10742], kicks Sheridan behind, and tries to close the door (r.) on them, saying: "Out Monsters! hav'nt they clear'd Portugal of the Enemy's Army!! Sheridan hurries off, waving his 'Westminster Petition - Charges of Ignorance Disloyalty Negligence Inability'. He holds the arm of a stout, plainly dressed man and hurries from the room, as, more furtively, does Bosville. From the coat-pocket of the former hangs a paper: 'Republican Snuff', indicating Wishart, a snuff-maker of Coventry Street. Beside the bed (l.) is a commode decorated with a bonnet rouge, and strewn with torn newspapers: 'Cobbetts Weekly Political Register', 'Morning Chronicle', 'Convention of Cintra', 'Times', 'Fodder'.
[3] 'The Chelmsford Petition. - Broad-Bottom-Patriots [cf. BMSat 10530] addressing the Essex Calves!' Five men stand on a platform addressing an audience of calves, standing on their hind legs and waving bonnets rouges. The spokesman is the gouty St. Vincent, in uniform, supported on a stick, and pounding with his clenched fist. He says: "O this cursed Convention! It's all the fault of the damn'd Ministry by not sending me out to Portugal!!! - O damme, if I had had, but one of my Legs in the Tagus, I'd have Convention'd and D'Abrante'd 'em!! - ah! it was all for want of Me! Gentlemen Calves! - it's all for want of Me all this happen'd. All for want of Me!!!" Beside him (l.) stands the tall stout kingham, holding St. Vincent's hat and r. arm; he adds: "Ay! its all for want of us!" Next Vincent (r.) is Lord Temple, holding out the 'Essex Petition - Horrid Convention - Ministers Firing the Park Guns - Armistice in French lang[uage]'. Behind stand Petty, waving his hat and shouting "Bravo", and W'ndham. From among the freely sketched audience a placard is held up: 'Essex Calves to be Sold to the best Bidder - for Particulars Enquire at the Broadbottom Market.'
[4] '- The Middlesex-Petition! - Hackney Orators inspiring the Independent Blue & Buff Intent -.' A group stands on a platform (r.) above a cheering mob. The speaker is a barrister in wig and gown, Clifford (see BMSat 10708, 11430); he holds up the Middlesex Petition and shouts: "O Infamous Convention! Inquiry wo'nt do! - Instant Justice! - cut off their Heads, & Try them - afterwards!" Under his legs is his hat in which are two bottles of Por[t]. He rests his right. hand on Paull's shoulder. On his left. is George Byng, M.P. Middlesex (resembling Lord Spenser), clasping his hat, and looking admiringly at him. Behind (r.) is a man writing on sheets held in his hand. On the extreme left. is a stout man wearing a cocked hat; the others are scarcely characterized. The crowd shout "Ay! Cut off their Heads first"; "Ay Heads first"; "Heads first."
c.October 1808
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1808
- Dimensions
-
Height: 281 millimetres
-
Width: 412 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
For the Convention of Cintra see BMSat 11035, &c. The first petition was that of the City, praying for "such an inquiry into this dishonourable and unprecedented transaction as will lead to the discovery and punishment of those by whose misconduct... the cause of the country and its allies have been so shamefully sacrificed". The King's answer acknowledged their loyalty and good motives: "but I must remind you that it is inconsistent with the principles of British justice to pronounce judgment without previous investigation.... The interposition of the City of London could not be necessary for inducing me to direct due inquiry... into a transaction which has disappointed the hopes and expectations of the nation." 'Pol. Reg.', 22 Oct. This answer (attributed to Canning) was attacked by Cobbett and "was universally deemed ungracious" ('Ann. Reg.', 1808, p. 224). Cf. Wellesley's comment (to Castlereagh, 14 Nov.), on these demonstrations: "the late discussions in Middlesex and elsewhere, and the paragraphs in the newspapers, which, after all, rule everything in this country, tend to convince me that it is determined that I shall not have the benefit of an acquittal...". Wellington, 'Supplementary Dispatches', 1860, vi. 185. The other three designs seem to be fantastic representations of Opposition groups, and a satire on the supposed jealousy of St. Vincent, cf. BMSat 10246, 10762. Noodle and Doodle are the courtiers in Fielding's Tom Thumb (see BMSat 10680). See also BMSat 11047, 11051.
Grego, 'Gillray', p. 360 (reproduction). Wright and Evans, No. 350. Reprinted, 'G.W.G.', 1830.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.7701
