Going to Open the Budget, May 1791
Scope and Contents
Pitt, 'chapeau-bras', stalks haughtily from his coach (left) towards the door of the House of Commons (right), his head thrown back, left hand on his breast, a small empty bag in his right hand. Documents inscribed 'Taxes' protrude from his coat-pocket. Spectators cluster in the foreground to see him pass. A very stout constable with a long staff motions them back, shouting, "make way there for the Minister Take Care of your Pockets". He wears the red waistcoat of the Bow-street runner and is probably Townsend (there is a certain resemblance to Dighton's portrait). A stout citizen puts his hands in his coat-pockets, pulling them together to protect them from Pitt at whom he stares fixedly. A young man puts his hand on his shoulder and points at his pocket. A young woman looks contemptuously at Pitt, saying, "what a bit of a thing it is". Behind Pitt a footman folds up the steps of his carriage and is about to shut the door. A dog, his collar inscribed 'Paid for', sniffs at the man and befouls his leg. The fat coachman sits impassively on the box. Hand-coloured etching. Description from the British Museum.
Dates
- Creation: May 1791
Conditions Governing Access
Available by appointment in our Reading Room
Extent
1 Item(s)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
+44 (0) 114 222 7299
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