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A Meeting of Monopolizers, or the Good Effect of Peace, 28 October 1801

 Item — Box: LF104/6 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/6/59

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

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