- Museum number
- 1868,0808.7801
- Title
- Object: White washing a darling at the original whitewashing shop or how to make a black general white
- Description
-
A scene in the House of Commons. The Duke of York in regimentals coloured black, stands in a tub of frothing soapsuds, placed immediately in front of the Speaker in his chair. Two men from the front Ministerial Bench are applying brushes to the Duke; one, as in No. 11323, wears large spectacles (Perceval); he says: very hard work. The other (Canning) says: we will ?nake him look white and Beautifull I warrant it. Two men on the front bench say to each other: a fraction [sic] to overthrow Ro—l—ty [indicating Fuller, see No. 11234] and society for the suppression of Vice [indicating Wilberforce, founder of the Society, and leader of 'The Saints']. Other members on the Speaker's right say: Them that dont like England D------me [let] e'm leave it, and Infamy must rest som Were. The Duke, who is swarthy, not black as in No. 11272, holds a letter addressed My Dearest Darling and says to the Opposition: I never wrote a Letter to Mrs Clarke in my Life—they are all forgeries!! Burdett stands addressing the House; he is supported on a crutch (owing to his duel, see No. 10725), and says, pointing at the Duke, There is the Honor of a P------ce for you Gentlemen [see No. 11269]. Sheridan, on the front bench (right), says: Ha Ha Ha. Moira (a peer), in regimentals, says glumly: What will become of us [i.e. the Prince of Wales's group, see No. 10253]; another (resembling Lord Spencer) says: Da m-d Black. On the wall is a placard: White washing done here on easy terms by Percive-all & C°. The tub is R[oya]l Washig [sic] Machine; the froth is inscribed (twice) Brow Beating Froth.
April 3 1809
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1809
- Dimensions
-
Height: 250 millimetres
-
Width: 350 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 Duke's acquittal see No. 11269. He was defended by Perceval and the Crown lawyers. Wilberforce adopted a position between that of Wardle and the defence, acquitting him of direct corruption. He maintained (15 Mar.) that on moral grounds, on account of the Duke's adultery, 'it was necessary to make some reparation to public morals and decency' by the Duke's removal. Parl. Debates, xiii. 578 ff.; Life of Wilberforce, 1839, iii, 401-6. Fuller (see No. 11532), in the debate of 17 Mar., complained of the anonymous letters he had received on account of his support of the Duke, ending his speech by 'those who did not like England, damn 'em, let them leave it'. There were cries of 'Order!, Chair!' and Fuller defended his words as those of a toast, not intended to be disorderly. Parl. Debates, xiii. 674. For this he was attacked by Cobbett, see Pol. Reg. xv. 432 (25 Mar.). Cf. No. 11272, &c.
(Supplementary information)
In the inscription, 'April' is etched over 'March', and the 'th' belongs to the obliterated date.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.7801
