Tom Paine's Nightly Pest, cartoon
TitleTom Paine's Nightly Pest, cartoon
ReferenceFRAMED/111
Date
10 Dec 1792
Production date 1792-12-10 - 1792-12-10
Scope and ContentFrom Catalogue of political and personal satires preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum: vol 6
"James Gillray. Published Dec 10th 1792, by H. Humphrey, No. 18. Old Bond Street Engraving (coloured impression).
Paine lies asleep on straw on a ramshackle wooden bedstead, covered by his coat. He wears a cap inscribed Libertas. He lies diagonally from r. to l., facing the spectator, with his legs and feet projecting from under his coat, and the crisping of his toes indicates agitation caused by his dream. On the head of his bed are drawn the profile heads, with wings, of his Guardian Angels : Priestley (l.) and Fox (r.). His head rests on a bundle of straw round which is a striped and torn (?) flag. His arm lies across an open book: "The Rights of Farthing Candles proving their Equality with the Sun & Moon. And the necessity of a Reformation in the Planetary System". From his coat pocket protrudes a pamphlet: "Common Sense or convincing Reasons for Britons turning Sans Culottes". On a table by his side (l.) are a rat with its head caught in a trap, writing materials, and a paper: "The Golden Age The Art of Equalizing the Property of Princes & Pikemen". His dream appears surrounded with clouds on the l. of the design. Three judges are represented by their empty wigs: before each hangs a long scroll headed [1] "Punishments for Thos Paine Corporal Pain Contempt, Detestation, Extinction from Society" [2] "Charges against Thos Paine Libels Scurrilities Falshoods Perjuries, Rebellions, Treasons.." [3] "Pleas for Thos Paine. Ignorance Poverty Envy". There is a cloud-shaped scroll ascending from the central wig, inscribed: "Know Villain, when such paltry slaves presume To mix in Treason, if the Plot succeeds They're thrown neglected by- but if it fails Theyre sure to die like dogs! as you shall do". There is a glory of rays issuing from a sun in the centre of which are the scales of Justice. This is surmounted by shackles and by a scroll inscribed "The Scourge inexorable, and the torturing hour, awaits thee". Beneath are a gibbet (with a ladder) and a pillory. Between them are a scourge and birch-rod tied together. Above the bed is an open casement window out of which flies a terrified demon with his tail between his legs; he holds a fiddle, but drops his bow and a sheet of music inscribed "Ca-ira". Through the window appear clouds and a full moon. The extreme poverty of the room is shown a tattered curtain (dotted with fleurs-de-lis), and a raftered and sloping roof. Paine is not caricatured, and his expression though severe is composed and dignified.
Evidently published in anticipation of Paine's trial, 18 Dec. 1792 (postponed from 8 June when he had appeared in court), for publishing (Feb. 1792) in The Rights of Man Part Il, 'a scandalous libel on the Constitution, Laws and Government of England'. Paine had fled to France, whence he wrote a letter to the Attorney-General suggesting that he and ‘Mr Guelph’ might take warning from the example made of similar persons in France. Paine was outlawed and never returned to England.
"James Gillray. Published Dec 10th 1792, by H. Humphrey, No. 18. Old Bond Street Engraving (coloured impression).
Paine lies asleep on straw on a ramshackle wooden bedstead, covered by his coat. He wears a cap inscribed Libertas. He lies diagonally from r. to l., facing the spectator, with his legs and feet projecting from under his coat, and the crisping of his toes indicates agitation caused by his dream. On the head of his bed are drawn the profile heads, with wings, of his Guardian Angels : Priestley (l.) and Fox (r.). His head rests on a bundle of straw round which is a striped and torn (?) flag. His arm lies across an open book: "The Rights of Farthing Candles proving their Equality with the Sun & Moon. And the necessity of a Reformation in the Planetary System". From his coat pocket protrudes a pamphlet: "Common Sense or convincing Reasons for Britons turning Sans Culottes". On a table by his side (l.) are a rat with its head caught in a trap, writing materials, and a paper: "The Golden Age The Art of Equalizing the Property of Princes & Pikemen". His dream appears surrounded with clouds on the l. of the design. Three judges are represented by their empty wigs: before each hangs a long scroll headed [1] "Punishments for Thos Paine Corporal Pain Contempt, Detestation, Extinction from Society" [2] "Charges against Thos Paine Libels Scurrilities Falshoods Perjuries, Rebellions, Treasons.." [3] "Pleas for Thos Paine. Ignorance Poverty Envy". There is a cloud-shaped scroll ascending from the central wig, inscribed: "Know Villain, when such paltry slaves presume To mix in Treason, if the Plot succeeds They're thrown neglected by- but if it fails Theyre sure to die like dogs! as you shall do". There is a glory of rays issuing from a sun in the centre of which are the scales of Justice. This is surmounted by shackles and by a scroll inscribed "The Scourge inexorable, and the torturing hour, awaits thee". Beneath are a gibbet (with a ladder) and a pillory. Between them are a scourge and birch-rod tied together. Above the bed is an open casement window out of which flies a terrified demon with his tail between his legs; he holds a fiddle, but drops his bow and a sheet of music inscribed "Ca-ira". Through the window appear clouds and a full moon. The extreme poverty of the room is shown a tattered curtain (dotted with fleurs-de-lis), and a raftered and sloping roof. Paine is not caricatured, and his expression though severe is composed and dignified.
Evidently published in anticipation of Paine's trial, 18 Dec. 1792 (postponed from 8 June when he had appeared in court), for publishing (Feb. 1792) in The Rights of Man Part Il, 'a scandalous libel on the Constitution, Laws and Government of England'. Paine had fled to France, whence he wrote a letter to the Attorney-General suggesting that he and ‘Mr Guelph’ might take warning from the example made of similar persons in France. Paine was outlawed and never returned to England.
Extent1 framed item
Physical descriptionDimensions (HxW): 39cm x 46cm
LanguageEnglish
Persons keywordGillray, James, Paine, Thomas, Priestley, Joseph (1733-1804), Fox, Charles James
SubjectCartoons, Republicanism, Parliamentary reform, Revolutions
Conditions governing accessOpen
Levelfile
Normal locationD Plan Chest Drawer 1 (Room 12)