A Cheap Coronation for the good of a trading Community

The King and Queen sit side by side on a ramshackle bench the King’s right foot is on a rough wooden stool, he holds a ladle in place of a sceptre. The Queen’s left arm is thrust through the King’s arm, but she turns aside, biting her finger in bitter discontent. She wears a plain cotton gown, with cap and apron, like one of the royal maidservants, see BM Satires No. 16268. The King’s plain dress is patched and out-at-elbows. He looks up with a resolutely resigned smile at Grey who is about to crown him with an extinguisher inscribed ‘An Extinguisher To Put Out the Splendour Of Royalty’. Grey (right) in place of a robe wears a patchwork quilt draped clumsily over his shoulders and resting on the floor. He points towards Brougham who stands arrogantly on the left, right hand on hip, holding the staff which supports a huge and smouldering candle-end resting on ‘A Saveall For the Candles Ends’ [see BM Satires No. 15563]. He wears a tattered cloth in place of a wig and ragged and voluminous drapery instead of a gown. Sep 12 1831 Source British Museum BM Satires 16771