City Horsemanship or Procession to St Paul's, William Dent, 1789

A satirical representation of the city contingent in the king's thanksgiving procession to st. Paul's on 23 april, the houses of (?) the south side of fleet street forming a background. The crowd is dense. Five citizens in livery gowns are followed by the lord mayor (william gill) in his rightobes holding erect the city sword. The bridles of their horses are inscribed 'god save the king', their saddle-cloths are decorated with the city arms. A stout man holds the mayor's horse and also his left leg. The two sheriffs, william curtis and sir benjamin hammet, carrying staves, ride together in front of the mayor; a man lies on his back in the foreground as if knocked down by one of the riders. Of the four common councilmen who formed the rest of the contingent only three are depicted: a single rider in front of the sheriffs has lost both his stirrup and his top-boot, which lies on the ground; the foremost pair, on the extreme left, have knocked down one of the citizen soldiers who lined tne route, and have broken his wooden leg. Another casualty is indicated by a tray of 'birch's puffs, all a penny a piece' (cf. Bmsat 7681), which lies on the ground on the extreme left. The near rider wears a shoe, his top-boot is attached to the horse (like a gambado, see bmsat 7231). On his hat is the dial of a clock (? le mesurier, cf. Bmsat 7681). On his companion's hat is a pie or puff, he is birch, the confectioner, one of the deputation. All the (circus) horses have long tails. The front rank of the dense crowd is formed of the city militia, of most unsoldierly appearance, their muskets held at different angles, their dress far from uniform (cf. Bmsat 7613, &c). Spectators look from the windows of three houses on which are many inscriptions. On the extreme left is a house with two placards, 'seats to let', and 'this day will be presented the constant couple [cf. Bmsat 6918] with peeping tom'. (o'keefe. ) the windows are crowded and from one hangs a banner: 'god save the king'. The next house is also inscribed 'seats to let'. It has 'g. R. ' (reversed) with a crown (for illumination). Next comes a side street, packed with spectators. The corner house on its right is much decorated: 'r. G. ' (reversed) on each side of a portrait of the king, inscribed 'vive le roy', a loyal banner and 'thanksgiving seats to let above god save the king'. The next house is unadorned except for the inscriptions: 'seats to let \ grand procession \ peep holes \ three guineas each. ' the windows are comparatively empty and in the two on the second floor are only a dog and a cat. The next has a bay window on the first floor packed with spectators and adorned with 'god save the king'. Above are two placards: 'seats with refreshments at £1. 1s. O each' and 'prospect unlimited'. The next has 'seats to let', a star (for illumination) and a loyal banner. On the extreme right is part of a house showing three windows with one spectator only, placarded 'seats to let' and 'st. George's day - seats to let at 2-2-0'. 28 april 1789 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1789. Dimensions: Height: 221 mm; Width: 406 mm (trimmed). Medium: paper. Depicted People: Samuel Birch. Collection: British Museum. City Horsemanship or Procession to St Paul's (BM 1868,0808.5853)