Sir francis burdett, one hand on the knocker of the large iron-studded door, addresses the gaoler, a burly ruffian with large keys, who stands just inside, holding open one leaf of the door. He says, one finger raised: "hush! - harkee! - open the door! - i want only to see if my brother citizens have candles & fires, & good beds, & clean girls, for their accommodation, - that all!!! hush! open the door! quick!!" the gaoler answers: "hay? - what? - let you in, hay? - no! no! - we're bad enough here, already! - let you in! no! - no! - that would be too bad; - you're enough to corrupt the whole college. " from burdett's pocket hangs a paper: 'secret correspondence with o'conner evans quigley despard' (see bmsat 9189). In the background a hackney coach is driving under the high prison wall towards the gate. The profile of courtenay (on the extreme left) looks from the window to say: "drive me to the bastille you dog". The driver answers: "to cold bath college, you mean i suppose! - to take up your degrees master. " above the massive gateway is inscribed: 'the house of \ correction for the \ county of middlesex. \ 1794 \. ' 16 january 1799
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1799. Dimensions: Height: 345 mm; Width: 256 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Baronet. Collection: British Museum. Citizens visiting the Bastille (BM 1868,0808.6813)
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