A Meeting of Monopolizers, or the Good Effect of Peace, 28 October 1801
Scope and Contents
By Charles Williams. Five despairing men, beset by demons, are grouped under large trees, and by the side of a piece of water (right). A man (left) stands under a branch, from which a demon leans to encircle his neck with a noose of rope, saying, "Come along Old Boy, You've starved many a poor Creature in Your time". The man exclaims: "Oh Conscience, Conscience, thou art a Just Monitor. O that I had obeyed thy faithfull dictates." At his feet lie his hat, a 'Gazette The Preliminaries of Peace', and a 'State of Smithfield Market Since the Peace'. A stout man drinks from a large punchbowl inscribed 'Poison Pro Bono Publico', saying, "Drink deep Drink deadly deep and Stifle all". A winged demon helps to tilt the heavy bowl, saying, "Go it, Monopolize it all". A man stands by a tree-stump on which are two pistols and two razors; he takes a razor and loosens his neck-cloth, saying to a man who stands beside him, "Come Neighbour take your choice, I see we are all moved by the same Spirit". The other answers: "aye there is no greater torment than the Conscience of a Monopolizer, I should have like'd some out of the Bowl but he'I swallow it all I see". On the extreme right a man stoops at the water's edge, ready to plunge; he says: "Thus I go - to quiet Conscience, and escape from Woe"; from his pocket projects a paper: 'Hops fell £20 pr hund'. From the water emerge the head and beckoning talons of a demon, who says: "Come along I have got a good fire to dry you by." Description from the British Museum.
Dates
- Creation: 28 October 1801
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
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