The word eater .

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Thomas Rowlandson
1756-1827
The word eater .
Peel 3361
Published: 
[London] : Pubd. Dec. 30th 1788, by S. Fores No. 3 Piccadilly, [1788]
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Title etched below image.
Attributed to Rowlandson in the British Museum catalogue (BM Satires).
Five lines of text below title: Advertisment extraordinary. This is to inform the public ...
A political parody of advertisements of the day for exhibitions given by "The original stone eater", who allegedly ate and swallowed stones to the amazement of his audience.

Summary: 

"Fox stands in the House of Commons, making a speech; in his right hand he holds out a paper: 'Speech on the 'Rights of the P--'; in his left is an 'Explanation of that Speech'. He faces the table on which are piled large folios: 'Statutes at Large', 'Magna Charta', 'Principles of the Constitution', 'Rights of the People'. He says, "all these I'll devour next". Behind him on the ground are two open books: 'Jus Divinum of Kings' and 'Principles of Toryism &c.' The benches behind him are packed with intent listeners, some dismayed, some admiring. North, a bandage over his eyes, sits on the extreme right, next him is Burke. The end of the gallery (left) is visible; listeners hang over to watch Fox."--British Museum online catalogue.

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