The great Milan leech [graphic] / Marks fect.

[London] : Printed and published by W. Benbow, 269 Strand, [ca. November 1820]

1 print : etching with roulette ; plate mark 10.2 x 18 cm, on sheet 12.1 x 19 cm

wove paper

"Heading to a printed broadside. An enormous leech with the head and wig of Sir John Leach (see British Museum Satires No. 13740) advances menacingly upon three little men (right) who flee. Three others (left) register disgust, holding their noses. They say: "Tom T--dman's cart is nothing to compare to it; It stinks worse than a Pole-cat; D--n it what a Stench." A woman staggers backwards, saying: "Bring me a Smelling Bottle or I shall Die." One man lies on the ground fainting or dead. The leech is backed by clouds of smoke. Below the title: "The common damn'd shun its society, and think themselves fiends less foul." The text describes 'the Great Black Leech lately discovered at Milan . . .' procured 'at a great expense, at the special instance of the State "Doctor" [Sidmouth], . . . for 'the performance of an operation to relieve the Great Man's complaint' (a troubled mind). It was abortive and he is 'worse than ever'. Attempts to check its 'vicious propensities' were vain 'until Dr. Hone skilfully applied some "printer's ink" to it'."--British Museum online catalogue.

English

November 14, 2018

Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 10, no. 13992