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The Union Coach, 4 June 1799

 Item — Box: LF104/6 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/6/39

Scope and Contents

By Isaac Cruikshank. Pitt drives the coach and four, the two wheelers only being within the design. On the door are the Royal Arms and 'The Union Coach'. The inside is crowded with 'Scotch Members'; five lean and hungry heads are seen through the narrow window. One, taking snuff, asks: "Hoot man is this the way to the Treasury". Another shouts to a crowd of Irish Members who (ignominiously) fill the basket at the back of the coach: "Why This is quit warm & Cosey canna ye haud yere tongues ye Bullocking Bulls!!". Dundas, as the guard with a blunderbuss, sits cross-legged on the roof with a bag of 'Nuts'. He says (answering his compatriot) "I ken the way well enough", and to the Irishmen, to whom he flings nut-shells: "Theres the shells for you, ye Quarrelsome Crew". Three of the Irishmen say: "I dont much relish this Union Coach the Guard told us the back seats were the best, by Shaint Patrick the front ones must be bad enough then!" Pitt, flicking the horses, says: "These Paddys in the Basket are the most troublesome People I ever Drove - aye - aye it's a sign they're not used to such Good Travelling - come up there - e up - e up ss - go along - thats your sort Hey - Hey - If they grumble so now what will they say when I tip them the Long Trot over the Hard Flints in Parliament Street." Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 4 June 1799

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

Contact:
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
+44 (0) 114 222 7299