print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1982,U.817
- Title
-
Object: The nursery
-
Series: Political Sketches
- Description
-
No. 259. Five men dressed and posing as children (William Cobbett in centre; behind him Dr Lushington, Sir Francis Burdett, Sir William Ingleby, and to far left, slipping away, Sir John Cam Hobhouse), pleading for the protection of a nurse (Lord Althorp), standing to right. 7 May 1833
Lithograph
- Production date
- 1833
- Dimensions
-
Height: 283 millimetres
-
Width: 400 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Text from 'An Illustrative Key to the Political Sketches of H.B.', London 1841:
For the idea of this sketch we are indebted to a speech of Mr. Cobbett, the celebrated author of the Weekly Register, and M.P. for Oldham. In the debate on Sir John Key's motion for the Repeal of the house and window-taxes, Mr. Cobbett inveighed, with great bitterness, against the conduct of the House of Commons, with regard to the malt-tax, (See No. CCLX.)-"Last Saturday," said he, "the bells in Berkshire and Surrey were ringing for joy at the repeal of the malt-tax; to-morrow the news will go forth that the Reformed House of Commons has, at the command of the minister, consented to rescind their resolution: on Friday night they took a bold step, and on Tuesday they were whipped like spaniels into their kennels again. The noble Lord (Althorp) has declared his intention to resign if the resolution be not rescinded. His Lordship treats the House as a mother does her untoward children. He threatens, as does the mother, to deprive them of the light. He will withdraw the light of his countenance from the councils of His Majesty: and he expects the House to cry, like a child shut in a dark room, "Oh mammy, do not leave me." Lord Althorp (now Earl Spencer) as the "mammy," looks very like the "old woman who lived in a shoe, and had so many naughty children, that she couldn't tell what to do." Cobbett, as the biggest of the brood, stands first, and seems to implore mammy's protection for his smaller brothers. Dr. Lushington is dissolved in tears;- Sir F. Burdett overwhelmed with shame;-Sir W. Ingleby looks half penitent and half sulky;-and Sir John Cam Hobhouse is stealing off, as fully explained at No. CCLXI.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1753-1982
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1982,U.817
