The Raree Show executed for the benefit of Mr Somebody at the expence of John Bull, William Dent, 1788

The trial of hastings in westminster hall is travestied as a raree show in a booth. On the ground spectators fight for access to the booth; on a gallery above their heads burke, sheridan, and fox as clowns and zanies proclaim the attractions of the show; above their heads hang large pictorial placards on rollers, illustrating the shows to be seen within. The crowd struggling to enter the door (left) of the booth is composed of ladies and gentlemen among whom is a peer in his robes; they are being controlled by foot guards with muskets. In the foreground george iii, wearing a porter's knot, carries on his shoulders thurlow in his hat and wig but with the body of a bear or demon with a barbed tail inscribed 'defence'. Thurlow says "make room for precedence". On the king's garter ribbon hangs a jewel inscribed 'bulse' (see bmsat 6966, &c). The prince of wales stands beside them clenching his fists. A soldier bars the way to a would-be spectator on the extreme right. Below the gallery are bills posted on the booth (left to right): [1] 'a new song to the tune of tantatarara, rogues all'; [2] a bill headed with a pair of spectacles is inscribed: 'from the left side of the booth may be seen alexander the little' [? george iii]; [3] one headed by an opera-glass is, 'from the right may be seen alexander the great' [hastings, cf. Bmsat 7275]; [4] 'comparison between alexander the great and the dey of algiers a farce'; [5] 'to be seen here the characters of tamerlane and bajazet'; [6] 'impeachment with a grand procession'; [7] 'a tragi-comi-exhibition called the nabob in purgatory'; [8] 'a very curious black bear' [thurlow]. The three showmen are (left) burke, in oriental dress but wearing a jesuit's biretta (cf. Bmsat 6026) and a clown's ruff; he blows a trumpet as in 'carlo khan's triumphal entry. . ' (bmsat 6276), with a banner inscribed 'sublimity'. Next is sheridan, dressed as a clown, beating on a salt-box inscribed 'attic' (cf. Bmsat 6384). On the right is fox as punch, larger than the other two; his hat is inscribed 'wisdom', his body 'argument', and his hump 'knoledge'. Above their heads the three placards are: [1] 'the prodigious monster arrived from the east'; hastings holds in his arms an indian woman whom he is devouring. He tramples on the prostrate bodies of women and children (cf. Bmsat 7278). In the background a naked 'black secretary' with horns drives with a whip an ox with drums on its back. Two indians appear to be in flight. [3] 'the oratorical tragedy, or the power of the pathetic over the beautiful' [an allusion to burke's book]. '"------he would drown the stage with tears" "and cleave the general ear with horrid speech". ' 'hamlet'. Burke (right), standing in water produced by the tears of his audience, harangues seven ladies and a man, all with water spouting from their eyes. The man holds a smelling-bottle to the nose of a fainting lady. All are up to the neck in a sea of tears. [4] 'dancing on the tight-rope', hastings dangles from a gibbet. Beneath the title is etched: 'executed for the benefit of mr somebody at the expence of john bull' (cf. Bmsat 7326). 25 february 1788 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 345 mm; Width: 246 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. The Raree Show executed for the benefit of Mr Somebody at the expence of John Bull (BM 1868,0808.5686)