A house warming in Pall Mall, or, The old gigg shop revived

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William Holland
A house warming in Pall Mall, or, The old gigg shop revived
[London] : Publis'd as the act directs by W. Holland, No. 66 Drury Lane, Octr. 20th, 1783.
etching
image: 228 x 350 mm; sheet: 360 x 350 mm
Peel 2421
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Etching with song in five numbered stanzas printed in letterpress, with title: The house-warming, a song.
Consists of two joined sheets (360 x 350 mm), with the etching printed on the sheet above (229 x 353 mm) and the letterpress text of the song on the sheet below (134 x 351); publisher's advertisement below the text of the song reads: At no. 66, Drury Lane, may be had the following Publications, --- Hal's Looking-Glass; or, The Royal Exhibition, Price 2s, 6d ...[followed by titles of six additional publications].

Summary: 

Pairs of elegantly dressed and coiffed ladies and gentlemen sit around a long table drinking champagne. On a dais sits 'Perdita'(Mary Robinson) who assures the Prince of Wales of her undying love. He looks at her adoringly and says, "Now what care I for Mom and Dad, let 'em scold and bellow." His left hand rests on books piled up on the table (the titles of which are also listed in the publisher's advertisement). Another lady on his left looking at him may be Elizabeth Armitstead (later Mrs. Fox) who succeeded Mrs. Robinson as his mistress. Other members of this group include Lord Derby and his actress wife, Elizabeth Farren, and Charles James Fox. The location appears to be the Schomberg House where James Graham established his 'Temple of Health and Hymen' famous for its 'Celestial Bed' (cf. George 6325). Allusion to George IV's coming of age.

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