Triumphal Procession of Little Paul the Taylor, cartoon
TitleTriumphal Procession of Little Paul the Taylor, cartoon
ReferenceFRAMED/068
Date
8 Nov 1806
Production date 1806-11-08 - 1806-11-08
Scope and ContentFrom Catalogue of political and personal satires preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum: vol 8
James Gillray, Published Nov 8th 1806 by H. Humphrey St James's Street, Engraving (coloured impression).
The procession trudges through the muddy channel (kennel) between cobblestones from 'Hudsons Hotel', whose pillared porch, with a placard, 'Paul & Indep[endence]', is partly visible on the extreme r., to the hustings, part of which is in the background (I.). The central figure is Paull, seated with crossed ankles on a big 'India Cabbage' on the back of a goose with the head of Sir Francis Burdett, the goose's beak projecting in front of Burdett's profile. Paull is an out-at-elbows tailor, in slovenly dress. In his r. hand he holds a huge pair of shears, between the blades of which is a vast 'True Perth Cucumber'. In his l. hand is a yard¬stick, over his shoulders is a tape-measure; on the back of his goose are a roll of patterns of 'Superfine Cloth' inscribed 'Patterns for the New Parliament Dress', and a smoothing-iron inscribed 'Goose upon Goose'. Horne Tooke, full face and walking sideways, leads the goose by a noose of rope round its neck; he says: "Come along Goosee! come along! Paulee says he will go with you if its to the Scaffold! Goosed!" Under his arm is a pamphlet: 'Hints for New Patriots'. In his hat is a favour: 'Paul & Public Good'. In front of Tooke, and leading the procession is Bosville, a shambling elderly man scattering coins from his hat; he says: "There's a Penny apiece, for you Lads! & now Hollo out—"Paul for ever!" and then I'll give each of you a Ride, in my Coach & Four!—Hollo boys!!" In his pocket is a 'List of the London Correspo[nding] Society'. Behind the goose Cobbett marches aggressively, putting his top-boot to the bird's rump, and blowing a fiery blast from a trumpet: 'Glorious News!—Paul for ever!-damnation to the Whigs'. In his l. hand he holds out a sheaf of 'Cobbett's Political Register'; from his pocket projects 'Speeches far Paul Goose &c &c &c'. In his hat is a favour inscribed 'Independence and Public justice'. Behind him and on the extreme r. are hideous crones bawling from the ballads they hold: 'Paul & Plumpers'. They wear favours inscribed 'Paul'. In the background the mob faces the procession, cheering wildly, waving hats and bludgeons, and with the inevitable chimney-sweep. They shout 'Paul for Ever' and 'Paul & Plumpers'. Some (l.) hold out their hats to catch Bosville's coins. Below the design are inscriptions describing the figures (I. to r.): [1] 'Tom Paine [i.e. Bosville] distributing Halfpence among the Mob-(Vide, Election at Honiton-"Tom Paine for Ever"- [2] 'an Old Monk from Brentford-leading poor Goose in a string! (Vide-Paul's address to the Electors of Westmins' [3, the title.] [4] 'Porcupine dirtying his Boots, in attempting to give Poor Goosee a shove out of the Kennel.'- [5] 'Ballad Singers at 5 shilling a day closing the Procession'. On the two posts of the hustings, at the end occupied by Paull's supporters, are the placards: 'St Giles in the Fields' and 'Tothil Fields'. (On the actual placards were the names of the Westminster parishes, indicating where voters were to poll: Gillray implies a rabble from the slums, outside and inside Westminster.)
On 6 Nov. Sheridan's supporters were preceded by Irish bludgeon-men from St. Giles' who ushered before the hustings a pageant led by a man carrying on a long pole a cabbage surmounted by a smoothing-iron. Next was a man dressed as an ape (to represent Paull), carried on a board surrounded by implements of tailoring. Last was a man dressed as a French Jacobin, wearing a huge hat adorned with cockades and inscriptions for Paull, in one hand a truncheon inscribed 'Liberty, Protection, and Peace', in the other one of Paull's election bills. He made gestures of conciliation to the mob; on his back were emblems of cruelty and tyranny. The performers were scene-shifters from Dury Lane, according to the Rising Sun, ii. 121. Cobbett, impelled by distrust and dislike of the Ministry, made violent attacks on Whiggism and gave very effective support to the radicals in the general election, especially to Paull and Burdett. Bosville was a contributor to all radical causes and a benefactor of Horne Tooke. He is identified with Tom Paine, who was in America, and had not returned to England since his flight to France in 1792. 'Paul and Plumpers' was an election song: 'Tune—Drops of Brandy'. Paull was the son of a Perth tailor; cabbage connotes cloth pilfered by tailors. London tailors in summer were said to be cheaper than cucumbers: 'Cucumbers two a penny, tailors twice as many.'
James Gillray, Published Nov 8th 1806 by H. Humphrey St James's Street, Engraving (coloured impression).
The procession trudges through the muddy channel (kennel) between cobblestones from 'Hudsons Hotel', whose pillared porch, with a placard, 'Paul & Indep[endence]', is partly visible on the extreme r., to the hustings, part of which is in the background (I.). The central figure is Paull, seated with crossed ankles on a big 'India Cabbage' on the back of a goose with the head of Sir Francis Burdett, the goose's beak projecting in front of Burdett's profile. Paull is an out-at-elbows tailor, in slovenly dress. In his r. hand he holds a huge pair of shears, between the blades of which is a vast 'True Perth Cucumber'. In his l. hand is a yard¬stick, over his shoulders is a tape-measure; on the back of his goose are a roll of patterns of 'Superfine Cloth' inscribed 'Patterns for the New Parliament Dress', and a smoothing-iron inscribed 'Goose upon Goose'. Horne Tooke, full face and walking sideways, leads the goose by a noose of rope round its neck; he says: "Come along Goosee! come along! Paulee says he will go with you if its to the Scaffold! Goosed!" Under his arm is a pamphlet: 'Hints for New Patriots'. In his hat is a favour: 'Paul & Public Good'. In front of Tooke, and leading the procession is Bosville, a shambling elderly man scattering coins from his hat; he says: "There's a Penny apiece, for you Lads! & now Hollo out—"Paul for ever!" and then I'll give each of you a Ride, in my Coach & Four!—Hollo boys!!" In his pocket is a 'List of the London Correspo[nding] Society'. Behind the goose Cobbett marches aggressively, putting his top-boot to the bird's rump, and blowing a fiery blast from a trumpet: 'Glorious News!—Paul for ever!-damnation to the Whigs'. In his l. hand he holds out a sheaf of 'Cobbett's Political Register'; from his pocket projects 'Speeches far Paul Goose &c &c &c'. In his hat is a favour inscribed 'Independence and Public justice'. Behind him and on the extreme r. are hideous crones bawling from the ballads they hold: 'Paul & Plumpers'. They wear favours inscribed 'Paul'. In the background the mob faces the procession, cheering wildly, waving hats and bludgeons, and with the inevitable chimney-sweep. They shout 'Paul for Ever' and 'Paul & Plumpers'. Some (l.) hold out their hats to catch Bosville's coins. Below the design are inscriptions describing the figures (I. to r.): [1] 'Tom Paine [i.e. Bosville] distributing Halfpence among the Mob-(Vide, Election at Honiton-"Tom Paine for Ever"- [2] 'an Old Monk from Brentford-leading poor Goose in a string! (Vide-Paul's address to the Electors of Westmins' [3, the title.] [4] 'Porcupine dirtying his Boots, in attempting to give Poor Goosee a shove out of the Kennel.'- [5] 'Ballad Singers at 5 shilling a day closing the Procession'. On the two posts of the hustings, at the end occupied by Paull's supporters, are the placards: 'St Giles in the Fields' and 'Tothil Fields'. (On the actual placards were the names of the Westminster parishes, indicating where voters were to poll: Gillray implies a rabble from the slums, outside and inside Westminster.)
On 6 Nov. Sheridan's supporters were preceded by Irish bludgeon-men from St. Giles' who ushered before the hustings a pageant led by a man carrying on a long pole a cabbage surmounted by a smoothing-iron. Next was a man dressed as an ape (to represent Paull), carried on a board surrounded by implements of tailoring. Last was a man dressed as a French Jacobin, wearing a huge hat adorned with cockades and inscriptions for Paull, in one hand a truncheon inscribed 'Liberty, Protection, and Peace', in the other one of Paull's election bills. He made gestures of conciliation to the mob; on his back were emblems of cruelty and tyranny. The performers were scene-shifters from Dury Lane, according to the Rising Sun, ii. 121. Cobbett, impelled by distrust and dislike of the Ministry, made violent attacks on Whiggism and gave very effective support to the radicals in the general election, especially to Paull and Burdett. Bosville was a contributor to all radical causes and a benefactor of Horne Tooke. He is identified with Tom Paine, who was in America, and had not returned to England since his flight to France in 1792. 'Paul and Plumpers' was an election song: 'Tune—Drops of Brandy'. Paull was the son of a Perth tailor; cabbage connotes cloth pilfered by tailors. London tailors in summer were said to be cheaper than cucumbers: 'Cucumbers two a penny, tailors twice as many.'
Extent1 framed item
Physical descriptionDimensions (H X W): 31cm X 44cm
Persons keywordGillray, James, Paull, James, Burdett, Francis, Tooke, John Horne, Bosville, William, Cobbett, William
SubjectCartoons
Conditions governing accessOpen
Levelfile
Normal locationD Plan Chest Drawer 6 (Room 12)