File:The Crown & Anchor libel, burnt by the public hangman;- (BM 1868,0808.6484).jpg

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The Crown & Anchor libel, burnt by the public hangman;-   (Wikidata search (Cirrus search) Wikidata query (SPARQL)  Create new Wikidata item based on this file)
Artist

Print made by: James Gillray

Published by: Hannah Humphrey
Title
The Crown & Anchor libel, burnt by the public hangman;-
Description
English: Pitt as hangman stands beside a fire of faggots immediately outside the door of the 'Crown & Anchor' (name on door-post). In his right hand is an axe; he drops an open book into the flames, and looks over his shoulder at Reeves who is disappearing into the tavern. On one page (right) is the trunk of a tree surmounted by a crown and the words 'The Royal Stump', on the other: 'No Lords No Commons No Parliame[nt] Damn the Revolution'. He wears a long coat with a hangman's noose tied round his waist, a round hat, and wrinkled gaiters. From his pocket protrudes a book: 'Ministerial Sincerity and Attachment a Novel'. He says:



"Know, villains, when such paltry slaves presume
To mix in Treason, if the plot succeeds,
You're thrown neglected by: - but if it fails,
You're sure to die like dogs!"

Reeves, with hands outstretched in protest, says: "O Jenky! Jenky! have I gone through thick & thin for this ?" From his coat-pockets hang papers: '£400 pr Ann, To the Chairm[an] of the Crown & Anchor', and, 'List of Spies Informers Reporters Crown & Anchor Agents'.
On the right Fox, Sheridan, and Erskine blow at the fire; the two former on hands and knees, Erskine, in wig and gown, between them, an arm across the shoulders of each. Smoke and the lower parts of the adjacent houses form a background.
The title continues: 'See the Proceedings of the House of Commns Novr 26th 1795 - To the Charman & Members of the truly Loyal Association at the Crown & Anchor this small token of Gratitude for Favors receiv'd, is respectfully dedicated by the Author'. 28 November 1795


Hand-coloured etching
Depicted people Associated with: Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
Date 1795
date QS:P571,+1795-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Medium paper
Dimensions
Height: 248 millimetres
Width: 352 millimetres
institution QS:P195,Q6373
Current location
Prints and Drawings
Accession number
1868,0808.6484
Notes

(Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VII, 1942) Reeves founded, and became chairman of, the Association for preserving Liberty and Property against Levellers and Republicans, known as the Crown and Anchor Society, see BMSat 8316, &c. In 1795 he published anonymously 'Thoughts on the English Government. . .', denounced on 23 Nov. by Sturt as a libel on the constitution; Sheridan, Fox, and Erskine spoke. On 26 Nov. the debate was continued, being opened by Sheridan, who read the offensive passage: that the government was a monarchy, the ancient stock from which the branches, the Lords and Commons, had sprung, and might be lopped off, and the tree remain a tree. Erskine and Fox spoke. The pamphlet was defended by Windham, whose arguments were opposed by Pitt, and it was agreed to appoint a Committee to inquire who was the author. Its report (1 Dec.) showed that Reeves was the author, and that he had ordered six copies to be sent to the office of Lord Hawkesbury (the Board of Trade, of which Reeves was Law Clerk). Hawkesbury ('Jenky') denied (2 Dec.) that copies had been sent to him. 'Parl. Hist.' xxxii. 608 ff.; Farington, 'Diary', i. 111. See also Coleridge, 'Essays on his own Times', 1850, i. 79-80; 'State Trials', xxvi. 530 ff.; 'Monthly Review', 1795, p. 443, 1800, p. 81. Wolcot wrote verses on the incident, in which Reeves ('R------') was 'the Grand Informer'. See 'Liberty's Last Squeak', 1795, pp. 23-6. Cf. BMSats 8365, 8690, 9286. For the dedication cf. BMSats 8316, 8318.

Grego, 'Gillray', pp. 194-5. Wright and Evans, No. 139. Reprinted, 'G.W.G.', 1830.
Source/Photographer https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-6484
Permission
(Reusing this file)		 © The Trustees of the British Museum, released as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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