The secret insult!, or, Bribery & corruption rejected!!! [graphic] / I.R. Cruikshank fect.

[London] : Pubd. by Benbow, St. Clements Church Yard, Strand, June 11th, 1820.

1 print : etching ; plate mark 26 x 37 cm, on sheet 26.7 x 38 cm

wove paper

"Queen Caroline, dignified and regal, stands with extended right arm facing Lord Hutchinson (identified by Reid as Liverpool), a thin man in court dress who bows low, holding out a large purse inscribed '£50,000'. He looks up at her with a servile and apprehensive grimace, saying: "Abandon your claim to the Throne, Change your Name & the Livery & retire to some distant part of the earth were you may never be seen or heard of any more; & if 50,000£ pr Annm will not satisfy you, what will?" She answers: "Nothing but a Crown!" In her left hand is a paper: 'Lawful Claims'. At her side (right) stands Alderman Wood, noble and stalwart in Roman armour; he holds a sword, whose wavy blade (representing flame) is inscribed 'A Swoard for the Guilty', and a shield: 'A Shield for the Innocent--'. Behind Hutchinson and in back-view stands Brougham in barrister's wig and gown; he holds a broom, and says: "I turn my back on such dirty work as this." The Devil, on the extreme left, clutches his arm, saying: "Well done Broom! you have done your business well." Behind Wood is a ship at anchor, her poop inscribed 'The Wooden walls of Old England'; she flies a Union flag inscribed 'Caroline'."--British Museum online catalogue.

English

November 08, 2018

Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 10, no. 13730