The funeral procession of Miss Regency

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James Gillray
1756-1815
The funeral procession of Miss Regency
etching, hand colored
plate mark: 213 x 686 mm; sheet: 217 x 699 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2691
Published: 
[London] : Pubd. April 29th, 1789, by S.W. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly, [1789]
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Title from item.
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue.
A satire on the withdrawal of the Regency Bill on the King's recovery.

Summary: 

"A strip design. Beneath the figures are inscriptions indicating their identity. The procession is preceded on the extreme right by Hall the apothecary, one of Fox's chief supporters in Westminster, who holds the abortive 'Regency Bill'. A medical instrument protrudes from his coat-pocket; he is 'Apozem, Clerk, & Apothecary'. ... After him in priest's robes and wearing a Jesuit's biretta walks Burke, 'Ignatius Loyola' (cf. BMSat 6026), holding an 'Ode upon his Majesty Recovery'. ... The coffin is carried on the shoulders of six men with bulls' heads, hoofs, and tails, wearing coronets and shedding tears; three only are depicted, though the hoofs of the three on the left side of the coffin are indicated; it is 'The Body of the deceased supported by six Irish Bulls'. They wear a duke's, an earl's, and a baron's coronet, and say: "[1] Pullalaloo - Pullalalo - oh.', [2] Oh! - Ogh! - Oh!; [3] Oh Pullalalo - ogh". On the coffin is a coronet with the Prince's feathers flanked by an empty purse and dice and dice-box. Four ragged little girls holding nosegays walk as pall-bearers, two before the coffin and two behind it. They are '(bis) Unfledg'd Noviciates of Sf Giles's or, Charley's delight'. ... They are followed by Mrs. Fitzherbert in long trailing weeds, a rosary and crucifix hanging from her waist. She is 'Chief Mourner - The Princess of W--s'. ... She clasps her hands despairingly. ... She is followed by Sheridan and Fox, wearing cloaks and carrying hats with mourning-scarves; they are: 'Second Mourners', 'The Rival Jacobites'. ... The next couple are Weltje and a hairdresser, Mails. ... The procession is followed by a nude and very emaciated demon (left), playing the fiddle and capering as he sings, grinning. He is the 'Blue and Buff Train Bearer.' ..."--British Museum online catalogue.

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