St. Michael of London. Looking Galss no 8

Captions St Michael of London. Inconvenienc [sic] of Irish servants. John Bull & his new police. England’s best bower not a maker of bows. His Majisty [sic] has discharged the German band. New publication devils (a printers) walk Ap-y House breakfast time The Scarlet and his bantling. Irish affairs. St MICHAEL OF LONDON. (16200) Bishop Blomfield, poised on a tasselled cushion, is a large figure backed by clouds, suspended above and in front of little scenes. He uses a tilting-lance to spear a leg of mutton, shattering the dish carried by a poor man below and exclaiming ‘Profane Wretch!!!’ His victim cries ‘Oh Lud! My Lord My Sundays Dinner’. On the left is ‘Ap—y House On a Sunday!!!’ Footmen carry large dishes from a kitchen while a military band plays ‘Go to the Devil and shake yourself’, and a bystander says: ‘Grand Dinner Party Sir’. Behind are Wellington on the balcony of Apsley House, holding out his cocked hat, and the Achilles statue (see No. 14376, &c). On the right is a contrasted scene, ‘Driving the Poor back into the Smoke on a Sunday’: groups of people in the fields round London are threatened by cannon projecting from the clouds round the bishop. Some run towards the smoke-pall surrounding St. Paul’s, &c. two hold their ground, saying, ‘Ve vont go back’. By the bishop are a tithe-pig and a decanter. The Devil leans from the clouds, pointing to the dinner party: ‘Isay Bloomee that’s where I shall Dine, You wo’nt disturb us, there’. INCONVENIENC OF IRISH SERVANTS. (16518) A cleric stands aggressively at a street-door, addressing an uncouth footman: ‘Not at home! When will he be?’ Footman: ‘I’ll “jest stip” in and ax him Sir’. JOHN BULL & HIS NEW POLICE. (16201) J. B., heavily overburdened with bundles inscribed ‘Tax’ on his head, and with a millstone of ‘Debt’ hanging from his neck, stands, angry and alarmed, between two savage dogs wearing police uniform. One barks: ‘Nobody shall touch you if you carry it quiet But’ the other: ‘You’d better carry it steady Or!!!’ See No. 15768, &c. ENGLAND’S BEST BOWER NOT A MAKER OF BOWS. (16202) The head of William IV supported on an anchor wreathed with oak-leaves. (The best bower was one of two anchors carried at the bows of a vessel. O.E.D. A contrast with George IV, whose bow was famous (see No. 7439, cf. No. 14235) is intended.) HIS MAJISTY HAS DISCHARGED THE GERMAN BAND. (16203) George IV’s bandsmen, in their striped liveries, hurry (left to right) in single file, each with his instrument and expressing his disgust e.g. the trumpeter: ‘Now let Fame “soun” de Trumpet’. The King stands in the background (right), arm extended, saying imperiously, ‘March’. (William IV dismissed George IV’s band ‘and employs the bands of his Guards every night, who are ready to die of it, for they get no pay . . .’. Greville, Memoirs, 1838, ii. 13 (25 July).) NEW PUBLICATIONS DEVILS (A PRINTERS) WALK (16519) A ragged printer’s devil knocks at a street-door: ‘This is the tenth time I’ve been here Mr Scratch, Press is waiting’. (Editions of ‘The Devil’s Walk’, by Coleridge and Southey, originally appear�ing anonymously in the Morning Post, 6 Sept. 1799, appeared with additions by Southey in 1830. Parodies and adaptations followed, see No. 17011. Cf. NO. 17352.) AP-Y HOUSE BREAKFAST TIME (16204) Wellington leans on a balcony, elegant in Court uniform, looking through a glass. Below are soldiers among clouds of dust backed by the arch fronting Buckingham Palace (see No. 15675). He says: ‘Now I think I see Him—No!— is that His carriage No!—I dont like it—Not as regards the Breakfast—But I-do-not—like——It’. Behind him on the balcony are a lady and two peevish children and an exotic-looking officer, all anxious and annoyed. (One of many attacks on Wellington for haughtiness vis-�-vis the Crown, cf. No. 15500 for the breakfast see No. 16188.) THE SCARLET AND HIS BANTLING. (16205) Scarlett (left), in wig and gown and with ass’s ears, stares horror-struck at a mutilated mannikin wearing a fool’s cap inscribed ‘Admin of Justice Bill’. From its shoulders projects (left and right) the broken beam of a pair of scales it is supported on a crutch, has lost both arms and a leg, and has a long tail-feather. Scarlett: ‘Bill My Boy who has so mutilated you, And where do you come from’. The Bill: ‘The H——e of Lords Daddy’. Scarlett: ‘Ah! well, III have You set to rights next Session’. Source British Museum