print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.8730
- Title
- Object: Racing intelligence-or-money, makes the mare to go."
- Description
-
Mrs. Birkbeck seated astride a thin whitish horse, which she spurs and lashes savagely, races (left to right) William Allen, who is a neck ahead on a chestnut. They have almost reached a Friends' Meeting House; a signpost points to Winchmore Hill. Outside the door are three Quakers; one capers in wild delight, holding up his hat and exclaiming: Huzza! Huzza! friend William is in for the Plate. [See Partridge, Slang Dict.] A prim companion standing on tiptoe, his thumbs together, exclaims O! yea! A woman stands in a similar attitude. Another signpost behind the racers points (left) To Wisdom (in reversed characters). Raffish men on horse and foot run after the couple, shouting, Bravo! Bravo! and Keep the tail up lad. Below the title: A heat extraordinary will take place on Winchmore Hill, between the favourite high mettled racer Alchemist, and Dr Syntax's old-mare Grizzle [cf. BM Satires 11507]: each carrying feather weight; Alchemist was got by Cooper out of Lady Chab, and has been in training many years, Grizzle was got by Banker out of Quakeress, she has been long noticed for steady paces, never having run a heat for many years. This race has caused great speculation, the winner who is expected to be Alchemist will pocket many thousands by the days sports; he formerly won the maiden plate against Hamiltonian out of Mary and also the Tottenham purse against Capel out of Hannel Pure—. 8th March 1827
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1827
- Dimensions
-
Height: 236 millimetres
-
Width: 302 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952)
See No. 15447, &c. Mrs. Birkbeck was the daughter of Samuel Hoare, banker, and Grizell, d. of Jonathan Gurney. Allen was the son of Job Allen and Margaret née Stafford; his first wife was Mary Hamilton, his second Charlotte Hanbury. His daughter Mary (1797-1823) married Cornelius son of Capel Hanbury (the business becoming Allen and Hanbury).
In the publication line 'at 24' is inscribed with pen and ink to replace words which have been erased.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.8730