Paul before Felix, or, The high Bailif disconcerted

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Paul before Felix, or, The high Bailif disconcerted
etching
image: 196 x 301 mm; plate mark: 236 x 317 mm; sheet: 250 x 332 mm
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan, 1900.
Peel 2377
Published: 
[London] : Pub. by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly, July 14, 1784.
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Title etched below image.
One line of text below image.

Summary: 

The Westminster scrutiny in process: Corbett, High Bailiff of Westminster, in the chair, seated full-face at the head of an oval table. Fox stands in the foreground (left) declaiming, his right arm raised, fist clenched; he says: "I Pledge myself to pursue and bring this man to Answer the Mischiefs occasioned by his Timerity and his obstinacy and I will bring all the Orkneys and every friend of Charles Stuart to support me". He wears Highland dress, tartan coat, kilt, stockings, and plaid with a sporran, to signify that he was M.P. for the Orkney boroughs. On the table in front of him is an open book, 'Eloquence or the Art of making wrong appear right'. Next to Fox is a lawyer in wig and gown, writing on 'A List of Lodgers rs Votes in & out of Vest------r'. Next him and on the right hand of the High Bailiff is another man writing. On the Bailiff's left hand two men are seated at the table, one is writing on a 'List of Bawdy House Keepers in West------r'. All four men are holding their noses. A man standing behind (left) says, "This business stinks horribly". A man behind on the right says, "l can smell how matters goe". The High Bailiff, his mouth firmly closed, his eyes turned towards Fox, appears to be saying "I.I.I.am. . ." . Before him is a paper: 'A political Plan from the Present M-----y' [Ministry]. Beneath the design is etched: 'And as he reason'd of the Electors, the Elected, and Judgment to come Felix trembled'. Cf.

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