A scaffold extends across the foreground: fox raises an axe to strike the neck of george iii, whose head is held by sheridan. The scaffold is surrounded by a dense and cheering mob. On the right is the gate of the 'crown & anchor' tavern, and from two projecting lamp-brackets swing the bodies of queen charlotte and pitt. The houses of the strand recede in perspective and terminate in temple bar, with two heads on spikes; clouds of smoke appear to come from burning houses east of temple bar. On the clouds a meretricious liberty sits enthroned and triumphant. The king's neck rests on a narrow block, his shaved head appears bald, his legs are held up by horne tooke, who stands on the left, saying:
"o, such a day as this, so renown'd so victorious,
such a day as this was never seen
revolutionists so gay; - while aristocrats notorious,
tremble at the universal glee. "
from tooke's pocket projects a paper: 'petition of horne tooke' (against the return of fox and hood for westminster, see bmsat 7690). The king, who supports himself on his hands, says, "what! what! what! - what's the matter now". Fox, enormously stout, straddles behind the king, full face his axe raised in both hands; he wears a mask with large circular eye-holes and fox's ears; he says: "zounds! what the devil is it that puts me into such a hell of a funk? - damn it, it is but giving one good blow, & all is settled! - but what if i should miss my aim! - ah! it's the fear of that which makes me stink so! - & yet, damnation! what should i be afraid of? if i should not succeed, why nobody can find me out in this mask, any more than the man who chop'd the calf's-head off, a hundred & forty years ago - and so here goes!" sheridan kneels in profile to the left holding the king by the ear and nose, he looks up at fox with a sinister scowl, saying, "hell & damnation, dont be afraid give a home stroke, & then throw off the mask - zounds, i wish i had hold of the hatchet. "
priestley, behind sheridan, leans towards the king, saying, "don't be alarmed at your situation, my dear brother; we must all dye once; and, therefore what does it signify whether we dye today or tomorrow - in fact, a man ought to be glad of the opportunity of dying, if by that means he can serve his country, in bringing about a glorious revolution: - & as to your soul, or any thing after death don't trouble yourself about that; depend on it, the idea of a future state, is all an imposition: & as every thing here is vanity & vexation of spirit, you should therefore rejoice at the moment which will render you easy & quiet". He holds a paper: 'priestley on a future state'. Sir cecil wray stands with his right hand on sheridan's shoulder, saying, "here do give me a little room joseph that i may be in readiness to catch the droppings of the small beer when it is tapp'd; i never can bear to see the small beer wasted joseph!" he holds in his left hand a small cask, 'for small beer', and a large pipe; in his pocket is a paper: 'plan of chelsea hospital by sir ceci[l] wray'. The queen is cruelly caricatured; she swings against pitt, who is in a death agony with crisped fingers. 19 july 1791
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1791. Dimensions: Height: 364 mm; Width: 513 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Charlotte, Queen of George III. Collection: British Museum. The Hopes of the Party, prior to July 14th- "From such wicked Crown & Anchor-dreams, good Lord deliver us." (BM 1868,0808.6086 1)
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