Doctor Sangrado Curing John Bull of Repletion - with the Kind Offices of Young Clysterpipe & Little Boney, 2 May 1803
Scope and Contents
Artist: James Gillray. Published: Hannah Humphrey. Addington (right) bleeds John Bull, who sits on a commode, exhausted and faint, supported by Hawkesbury. Addington, very erect, wears his gown, and says: "Courage John Bull - Courage!!!" Hawkesbury, drooping and melancholy, repeats "Courage Johnny." John's arm is tightly bound above the incision by a tricolour bandage, a tricolour ribbon is tied round his tousled head. A diminutive Napoleon (right) with a martial stride and drawn sabre holds out his cocked hat to catch the blood that spurts from John's arm; this is inscribed: 'West Indies', 'Cape of Good Hope', 'Malta', 'Ceylon'. A little boy, standing behind Addington and clutching his gown, holds out his hat, inscribed 'Clerk [of the] Pells', to catch a stream of blood inscribed '£3,000 Pr Annum'; he echoes 'Courage'. On the left stand Fox and Sheridan proffering bowls of 'Warm Water'; both say "Courage". Fox has swollen legs and holds a tea-kettle, his expression is that of calculating reserve; Sheridan bends forward with eager greed. John is a countryman wearing wrinkled gaiters. His commode is inscribed 'Reservoir for the Clyster-pipe Family' [the Addingtons]. Beside him lie his (damaged) hat and stick, with a torn paper: 'Rule Britannia an old Song'. Description from the British Museum.
Dates
- Creation: 2 May 1803
Conditions Governing Access
Physical item available by appointment in our Reading Room
Extent
1.0 Item(s)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
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