Scotch Harry on his fast trotter on a journey to the north / Argus delt.

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Charles Williams
1796-1866
Scotch Harry on his fast trotter on a journey to the north / Argus delt.
[England] : C Knight Lambeth, 1805
Peel 1885
Published: 
[England] : C. Knight Lambeth, 1805.
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Attributed to Charles Williams by the British Museum online catalog.
Lettered: "Argus delt, Pubd April 15th by C Knight Lambeth."
Library's copy trimmed within plate mark.

Summary: 

Melville rides (r. to left.) a clumsy horse with the head of Trotter away from a trumpet-blast, inscribed 'Tenth Report'. The trumpet is blown by John Bull, whose head and arm issue from a shed, one end of which appears on the extreme right. On the shed is posted a bill headed with the portrait of a horse and the word 'Pay-Master: This famous Animal was bred by Scotch Harry and has put some thousands into his Masters pockett he lost his last by running out of the Course and stumbling on a Bank [Coutts's], by which means his oponent Patriot [ ? won.] he has carried off a Number of John Bulls Subscription Plates, tho he has been accused of Jostling and crossing it is supposed he will not recover from his last accident, and will not attemp running any more in public.' Melville is in Highland dress; his plaid is blown out by the blast, at which he looks round in alarm, saying to his horse, "Get An! Get An! Paymaster, Wan we get the other side the Tweed we'll devede the Siller - and the Deel tak that D------d Report and the Makers O it". The horse is laden with large bags inscribed 'Siller'. Under its hoofs are large stones: 'Act of Parliament' and 'Speculation'. In the distance (l.) is a mountainous landscape with a river inscribed 'Tweed'. Near it is a broken signpost pointing to '------ Castle'; the broken board lies at its foot: the final letters of the word are 'LF' (or 'E'), and indicate Melville (his house being Melville Castle).

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