File:Joseph Surface posted (BM J,4.82).jpg

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Joseph Surface posted   (Wikidata search (Cirrus search) Wikidata query (SPARQL)  Create new Wikidata item based on this file)
Artist

Print made by: William Dent

Published by: William Moore
Title
Joseph Surface posted
Description
English: Sheridan (left) writes false reports for the Press: he leans forward to write on a paper placed saddle-wise on the back of a demon who leans his arms or paws on the centre of a turnabout (two short bars crossing at right angles which pivot on a post). On the creature's forehead is an ink-pot. While writing busily with a sly smile he hands a paper inscribed 'False Reports' to a winged demon. Other demons fly off with similar papers inscribed: "Vienna Bank Millions" and "Settled Melancholy", while a third, flying towards Sheridan, says, "Recovery Certain". The demon on whom Sheridan writes says, grinning, "Then we are dam'd for turning and poor Joe wont be better Posted". The turnabout is inscribed 'Wit's last Stake and Literary Corruption'; its base is 'Morning Post'. Sheridan writes 'Her political interference' (his pen on the last word). His paper is '[School for] Scandal'. On the right is a building with a bust portrait of the Queen for a signboard, inscribed 'Q------ C------', and surmounted by a crown. One demon cuts it down with an axe, two others pull at it with ropes. In the foreground lies a staff and cap of Liberty, the staff inscribed 'Liberty of the Press', the cap, 'Licentiousness'; from it emerge two twined serpents inscribed 'Herald' and 'Post'. c.25 February 1789
Etching with hand-colouring
Depicted people Representation of: Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Date 1789
date QS:P571,+1789-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Medium paper
Dimensions
Height: 135 millimetres
Width: 195 millimetres
institution QS:P195,Q6373
Current location
Prints and Drawings
Accession number
J,4.82
Notes

(Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938) A satire on the attacks in the Press on the Queen. 'The Morning Post', 18 Jan., ostensibly defending her, begins: 'It has been thought highly improper that a certain Great Personage should attempt to alter the Reports of the Physicians respecting his Majesty's health.' The Queen on 2 Jan. insisted that Warren should add to the bulletin (his own words to her) 'His Majesty is in a more comfortable state', which he reluctantly admitted, though refusing to allow that he was better. 'Harcourt Papers', iv. 126-30. This led to accusations that the Queen had forced Warren to sign untrue bulletins, and her conduct was the subject of inquiry in a parliamentary committee. Ibid., pp. 156,162-4. See Sir G. Elliot, 'Life and Letters', i. 259. Pitt effectively defended her. 'Parl. Hist.' xvii. 940 (16 Jan.). The 'Morning Post' was bought by the Opposition, which feared its attacks. 'Harcourt Papers', iv. 140, 154. Sheridan is said to have drawn up a scheme for the paper. John Taylor, 'Records of my Life', ii. 309-10. He is treated with marked respect in the paper during Jan. and Feb. 1789. The 'Morning Herald' was a Whig paper. For attacks on the Queen see BMSats 7383, 7384, 7486, 7487, 7488, 7498, and cf. BMSats 7906, 8267. For Sheridan as Joseph Surface cf. BMSats 7509, 7513, 7528, 7861, 7892. 'The Wit's last Stake' (1769) was a farce by Thomas King from the French of Regnard.

(Supplementary information)

Identified as Sheridan and dated 'about Feby 25 1789' on the verso by Sarah Banks.
Source/Photographer https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_J-4-82
Permission
(Reusing this file)		 © The Trustees of the British Museum, released as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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