print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1935,0522.6.212
- Title
- Object: Disposing of the Old Stuff
- Description
-
Brougham, seated in profile to the right in a chair inscribed Place, makes a bonfire on the floor of documents and his Old Stuff gown. This he holds over the flames on a levelled broomstick, the broom being inscribed Treasury Broom. Under one foot is a paper inscribed Opposition. He says: I think I shall cut a dash with my new gown; so here goes for the old one—Silk against Stuff for any money. But this worn out concern stinks most damnably: tis true, a great deal of dirty work has been done in it and it was only stuff at first:—it now emits more smoke than flame; yet I can distinguish a magic picture through this volume of vapour. O, glorious precedence! "Tam venerabile erat praecedere" Juvl. The burning papers are: March of Intellect [see BM Satires 15178], Liberty [of the] Pres[s], Blacks, Catholic Emancipation, Mulatoes, Reform. The smoke from the fire is inscribed Independence, Patriotism, Public Charities, Vapour, Retrenchment. Behind him (left) his new gown hangs on a stand made of an upright which supports his new wig, and a cross-bar inscribed Treasury. The gown is Patent New Silk. Partly concealed by the smoke is the 'magic picture': Anticipation; the Purse of the Great Seal suspended above mace and sword. Below the picture is a big bag stuffed with Briefs. 18 June 1827
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1827
- Dimensions
-
Height: 239 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', X, 1952)
See No. 14775. For Brougham's support of Canning's Ministry, and the silk gown (by a patent of precedence) which was its reward, see Nos. 15378, 15405, 15416. His supposed venality is a recurrent theme, see No. 15431, &c. The Chancellorship prophesied in the 'magic picture' was attained in 1830, but not in return for the disavowal of reforming activities here enumerated. For his educational activities see No. 14788. Cf. Peacock's attitude to Brougham and the Charities Commission in Crotchet Castle, 1830.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1935
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1935,0522.6.212