print;
satirical print;
broadside
- Museum number
- 1935,0522.12.108
- Title
- Object: The Royal Cot, or, the great Babe taken ill ...
- Description
-
Heading to a broadside printed in two columns. A sequel to No. 13764. George IV, a whiskered infant, lies feverish and fractious in a cot decorated with Chinese figures and hung with bells. He is surrounded by Ministers. Sidmouth, holding a doctor's gold-headed cane, feels his pulse, saying: "Dredful sympton's [sic] a raging Pulse." A bottle labelled 'Dolbys Carminative' (as in No. 13764) projects from his pocket. Liverpool, with pap-boat and spoon, says: "I thought how it would be, that Foriegn Emetick has been too strong for his weak Nerves." Castlereagh, standing between two lawyers, puts a hand on the Babe's forehead, saying: "how hot his poor dear head feels." One lawyer (? Copley) tries to push back a leg within the cot, saying: "If he could but stand on his Legs once more we might have hopes, but I'm afraid he has Caught the Rickets—" The other (? Gifford): "A sae [sic] voyage by all means Brou—ms drops should have been taken with more caution as they are very Searching." An old woman (left) holds out a ribbon: "Here's the R—y—l Leading Strings," while an apothecary (right) using a large pestle and mortar says: "O! what a fogo what a mixture what a mess." Behind him are shelves ranged with druggist's jars. In the foreground toys are scattered, chiefly military, as in No. 13764; they are: 'Royal Play things'. There is also a rocking-horse on which are two toy lancers. In front of the fire napkins are hanging, and on the mantelshelf are medicine-bottles and a doll. In the foreground is an overturned child's commode, the pan inscribed 'Royal Stole'. The 1st, 2nd, and 9th of nine verses (quoted in No. 13865) apparently spoken by Castlereagh:
Run, Sid—th, run; send for a Nurse,
The R—y—l Babe's quite ill;
Make haste, make haste, he's worse and worse,
He's ta'en some nauseous pill.
Tis Br—gh—m's Drops, he mix'd 'em strong,
How could he be so cruel;
Pray soothe him with a little song
While I prepare some Gruel. . . .
The Little Darling we'll take care
To train up to our wishes;
And let them say a word, who dare,
We'll keep the Loaves and Fishes.
c. September 1820
Hand-coloured etching with letterpress
- Production date
- 1820
- Dimensions
-
Height: 164 millimetres
-
Height: 361 millimetres
-
Width: 237 millimetres (platemark)
-
Width: 239 millimetres (sheet)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', X, 1952)
Brougham's Drops probably connote his speech of 17 Aug. against the method of proceeding against the Queen, see No. 13825, and his cross-examination of Majocchi, see No. 13827. This print (apparently) is mentioned in No. 13865, where the third edition is advertised, price 1s. coloured. A free rendering of it appears in No. 14049.
(Supplementary information)
Imprint cropped.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1935
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1935,0522.12.108
