- Museum number
- 1868,0808.8766
- Title
- Object: A complete turn-out among the cabinet-makers
- Description
-
George IV and Canning stand together, both wearing aprons, as master and foreman in a cabinet-maker's workshop. Workmen on strike are departing by a door (right) inscribed Cabinet Maker Extraordinary below G R and crown. They are Wellington, in uniform, but with a flat cap and apron, his saw held like a sword against his shoulder. As he walks arrogantly away he turns to say: I will never serve under such a Journeyman! Eldon, already outside, clasps a big bag inscribed Cash under each arm; he looks back, saying, Well I suppose I must turn out [strike], tho' I thought to have made another £100,000. Behind them is a dim head (? Peel's) wearing the square paper cap of a carpenter. The King says to them: Old customs, like old friends [see BM Satires 11855] become tiresome; go, we can do without you-—. Canning says: I have plenty of offers to supply your places; Off! Off! Behind them is a carpenter's bench. Lady Conyngham, wearing a coronet and feather, leans across it to put her hand imperiously on the King's arm; she says: Off! Off! Behind her is a young man, probably Mount Charles, also wearing a carpenter's cap (he was a Lord of the Treasury), who adds: Off! Off! Below the title: A turn-out took place, on the first of April in the above Shop in consequence of the Master taking on a new and clever foreman, who however is not in very high favor with the refractory workmen; The Ringleader who has been in the Army & is known as a turb lent [sic] fellow, we believe has been urged on by an old, and obstinate workman [Eldon] who is an enemy to all inovations on the old regulations of the Trade. As for the remaining Malcontents thier loss will not be regretted, being at the best but indifferent Workmen— April 1827
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1827
- Dimensions
-
Height: 245 millimetres
-
Width: 330 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952)
After Liverpool's stroke (17 Feb.) intrigue and confusion followed. It was not till 10 Apr. that the King ordered Canning to form a Ministry. An avalanche of resignations followed: by 12 Apr. Wellington, Westmorland, Melville, Bexley, and Peel had resigned; Eldon and Bathurst resigned on that day, producing the 'preposterous' situation of 'Tory Ministers resigning to force the Closet . . .'. Lord Holland to Lansdowne, 13 Apr. The resigning Ministers were ridiculed and abused in the Press as the Seven Sages. Peel's resignation was expected: he had explained that it would be necessary under a 'Catholic' Minister, in view of his position as M.P. for Oxford; that of the others was unexpected by Canning. Lady Conyngham, a 'Catholic', was believed to have influenced the King. See Aspinall, The Formation of Canning's Ministry, February to August 1827, 1937; Bulwer, Life of Palmerston, i. 186-903; Temperley, Foreign Policy of Canning, 1925, pp. 422 ff.; Feiling, Second Tory Party, 1938, pp. 349 ff. Canning versus the resigning Tories is the sole political topic (No. 15401 excepted) till mid-June (Nos. 15371-403). At first mainly Canningite: 'the Press is all on one side', Peel to Wellington, 22 Apr. Wellington, Despatches, N.S. iii. 650. The trend alters from mid-May (see No. 15393), but a counter-reaction followed the Corn Bill, see No. 15409, &c. Only in No. 15390 is there an allusion to Canning's foreign policy. On Canning's death the controversy revived, see No. 15423.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.8766