- Museum number
- 1868,0808.7869
- Title
- Object: Killing no murder, or a new ministerial way of settling the affairs of the nation!!
- Description
-
Castlereagh (left) fires a huge pistol at Canning, who, wounded in the thigh, drops a smaller but five-barrelled pistol inscribed G R. He says, much alarmed and with protruding tongue, "Och sure Fve Kill'it him now". From his pocket projects a paper, 'Trial of------for Murder'. Canning, in angry terror, shouts: 'Zounds I'm wouded [sic] in my Honor take me Home'; 'take me Home'; his hat flies from his head. Castlereagh registers alarm at his successful shot, Canning, ignoble terror. At Castlereagh's feet is another large pistol and a knife. Behind him are a canister of 'Gun powder', a bag of 'Ball's Slugs', some 'Congreeves Rockets' [see No. 11326], and his hat, the crown inscribed 'No stamp' [cf. No. 9004]. Beside Canning are four pistols and balls, a knife, and a mortar with cannon-balls. The two seconds, Yarmouth (wearing a star) and Ellis, are burlesqued but minor figures (? by G. C). Behind Castlereagh, and partly hiding Yarmouth, stands Sir William Curtis, a grotesque figure in armour, and holding a spit. His breast-plate is a turtle-shell, kitchen utensils are hung from his belt (knife, steel, spoon, &c.) and on his helmet is a gigantic carrot with a bunch of turnips. He says: "Thats your Sort [see No. 8073] speedy & soon—Speedy and soon [see No. 11306] forced meat Balls for ever I says". Near Castlereagh is a hamper: 'Billy's Provision Basket for fear of Accidents &c—Bill of Fare Turtle Soup—Venison &—.' Beside it are bottles of 'Port' and a parcel of 'Force Meat Ball'. The surgeon sits cross-legged midway between the seconds, grinning broadly, and holding up a surgical saw and a knife. Beside him are his case of instruments, a bottle, and a basket.
September 1809
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1809
- Dimensions
-
Height: 249 millimetres
-
Width: 348 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
See No. 11370. Curtis is associated with Castlereagh, for the caricaturist, by their common interest in the Walcheren Expedition, see No. 11361, &c. G. Cruikshank may have had a hand in the design, which is boyish in character. The title derives, not directly from Sexby's pamphlet of 1657, but from Theodore Hook's operatic farce, first played 21 Aug. 1809, see No. 11525. Cf. No. 11425.
(Supplementary information)
From 27 Sept. many caricatures appeared on the O.P, riots; though the riots were partly political the prints are placed with personal satires, see No. 11414, &c.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.7869