Jones stands in the house of commons, directed to the left, staring fixedly, right arm raised, snapping his fingers, left hand in the pocket of his long waistcoat, legs apart. He is corpulent, bald except for his queue, but with bushy whiskers. Behind him are three tiers of empty benches; his large round hat is on the bench beside him. His plain long coat with half-boots denotes the country gentleman. His speech is etched across the upper part of the design: 'im an independent man, sir, - & i don't care that! who hears me say so! - i dont like wooden shoes! no sir, neither french wooden shoes, no nor english wooden shoes, neither! - and as to the tall gentleman over the way [sheridan], i can tell him, that i'm no pizarro! [see bmsat 9396, &c] - i'll not hold up the devil's tail to fish for a place, or a pension!! - i'm no skulker! - no, nor no seceder neither! [see bmsat 9018, &c] i'll not keep out of the way, for fear of being told my own! - here's my place, & here i ought to speak! - i warrant i'll not sneak into taverns to drink humbug-toasts that i am afraid to explain, not i! [see bmsats 9168, 9205, &c] - my motto is, "independence & old england" - and that! for all the rest of the world! there; that! - that! - that! - that! - that!' 9 june 1799
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1799. Dimensions: Height: 340 mm; Width: 224 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt Jones. Collection: British Museum. Independence. (BM 1851,0901.985)
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