print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.9234
- Title
- Object: The first nautical sovereign coach, just stardted. - pro bono publico
- Description
-
After the title: 'pro bono publico'. William IV drives (right to left) a mail-coach, 'The Adelaide', with the Queen's head framed by the window. The horses have human heads: the near leader, a skewbald, is Grey, harnessed with Brougham, in barrister's wig; the wheelers are Althorp and Lord Holland. Just behind the box-seat are four outside passengers, one wearing a smock and holding a pitchfork. His neighbour says: 'they say Sailors can't drive, but they will find we have not had such a Coachman these ten years!' The King, flicking his whip over his team, says: 'Steady my Boy's, pull altogether—. I say my Lads behind. Keep a sharp look out, there are some suspicious looking Characters on the Road!!!' In the dickey behind, as footmen in livery, Wellington and Peel sit facing each other. The Duke: 'I say Bob, I do'nt much like this situation,—do you?' Peel: 'No, nor this livery either'. Running along beside the coach are Ministers (left to right): Melville (identified by a paper in his pocket), Aberdeen, Ellenborough, Scarlett (holding a (red) brief-bag), Lyndhurst. Melville shouts: 'Holloa Coachman stop,—We want Places' [cf. BM Satires No. 17037 &c.]. The King answers: 'No room,—all full, inside and Out'. The scene is a pleasant riverside landscape. 1830
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1830
- Dimensions
-
Height: 248 millimetres
-
Width: 388 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', XI, 1954)
A satire on the change of Ministry, see No. 16333, &c., in the symbolism of 1829, see No. 15720, &c, 15731, &c. Wellington and Peel are oddly placed court lackeys. See No. 16359. Coaches, &c, were called 'Adelaide', see No. 17076.
Reproduced, M. F. Sandars, 'Life and Times of Queen Adelaide', 1915, p. 124.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated names
-
Associated with: George Hamilton Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen
-
Associated with: Adelaide, Queen of William IV
-
Associated with: John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer
-
Associated with: Henry Peter, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux
-
Associated with: Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough
-
Associated with: Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
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Associated with: Henry Richard Fox Vassall, 3rd Baron Holland
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Associated with: John Singleton Copley, Baron Lyndhurst
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Associated with: Robert Saunders Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
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Associated with: Sir Robert Peel
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Associated with: James Scarlett, 1st Baron Abinger
-
Associated with: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
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Associated with: William IV, King of the United Kingdom
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.9234