Excerpt from Catalogue of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, Vol. 3: Division I, Political and Personal Satires (No; 3117 to No; 3804); 1751 to C. 1760
"My Place is not worth above 2 & 6 pr Day, I wish I had a Swans Nest.", remarks another goose; one goose says, "I see no Reason why one Brother" -, a sentence which his neighbour completes with - "Shou"d have the preference to Another." "A Cuckow with an Asse"s Head, singing his own wise Productions", stands on a bracket behind the table, and says, "These Ald - n 7 who 8 were of late Oak is Timber & Elm is timber Vide learned Annotations". Human representations of Covetousness, as an old, poorly-dressed man clutching a purse; Malice, a naked man holding a torch and snake; Disappointment, wringing his hands despondingly; Envy, and other evil passions, are grouped near the council table; in front of that table is a stork, saying: -
"Make me a Burgess you shall see
Ill teach the Chap - Humility."
A hen cackles to her brood of chicks, which rush towards her up the steps of the porch, "Gentlemen you must all cackle out for Independancy."; the chickens reply, "Independancy.", "Independancy.", "Newfoundland Trade.", and Newfoundland Trade." A druggist"s mortar and several bottles of medicine stand on the steps of the porch. On the walls of the porch are maps of "Nova Scotia", and "Gibralter".
In the middle of the foreground, i. e. in the street, an old man sits in a chair attended by a surgeon in the form of a big goose; the latter has bled the man, and holds lancets in his bill, and, in one foot, a bowl to catch the blood of the patient. Near this, two persons are conversing, one says, "He promises If we will stick by Him to bring the Newfoundland Trade here."; his companion, pointing to the ships, rejoins, "Dont let us be like the Dog in the Fable loose the substance for the Shadow, for the trade seems to be at a vast Distance."
A man is wheeling a very fat goose in a barrow; the bird says, "Ive got my Dose." A postillion (?) blows a horn and stands near a valise. A goose is waddling with, in its beak, a letter which is inscribed, "To Alderman Wiseacre". Gangs of sailors are bearing along the quay large boxes inscribed, "Lima" and "Lima". A pile of similarly inscribed boxes has been already formed. A tavern, having the sign of "The Hercules"s Pillars", appears on our right; one of its windows being open shows a party of geese feeding within, a goose nutters near and quacks - ""Tis Bliss divine to eat." Beyond the tavern is the shop of an "Agent For Prizes", and, within this, sailors are disposing of their property.
In the distance a party of men are hewing timber, marked, with axes; to this the inscription below the design is applied, The Envied Contract". One of the ships is the "Centvrion", a famous war-ship of this period; see Hogarth"s "The Stage Coach", &c., No. 2882. She had, April 25, 1749, left England for a cruise in the Mediterranean, under the command of Commodore Keppel, having Mr., afterwards Sir Joshua, Reynolds on board as a passenger. The following verses are engraved below the design: -
"Two Black Crownd Geese of middle Age,
By some thought Cunning few thought sage;
Who oft had smother"d Discontent,
And Long on Mischief been intent:
Now thought it oppertune to try,
The force of Independancy:
But Honestly to state the Case,
Each Goose was Hank"ring for a Place."
A work styled "The Geese in Disgrace, A Tale. Humbly inscribed to the Corporation of P - ts - th", was published in January, 1751; see "The General Advertiser", January 18, 1751, p. 2, col. 3.
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