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Alecto and her train, at the gate of Pandaemonium, or, The recruiting sarjeant enlisting John-Bull, into the Revolution Service

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James Gillray
1756-1815

Alecto and her train, at the gate of Pandaemonium, or, The recruiting sarjeant enlisting John-Bull, into the Revolution Service

[London] : Pubd July 4th 1791, by S W Fores N 3 Piccadilly, [1791]
etching, hand colored
image: 373 x 448 mm; plate mark: 395 x 450 mm; sheet: 437 x 483 mm
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
1986.183
Notes
By James Gillray.
Provenance

From the library of Gordon N. Ray.

Summary

Print shows the Fury Alecto as a fantastic hag outside the Crown and Anchor tavern between Sheridan playing a fife, and Fox as a drummer, both wearing regimentals. She holds a pike surmounted by a cap of 'Liberty' and holds out to John Bull, a yokel, a handful of 'Assignats'. Serpents form her hair and suck at her breasts. She has webbed wings, and wears a French cocked hat with a tricolour cockade inscribed 'Liberty'. She says: "Come on my brave Lad, take this bounty-money, & enter into my Company of Gentlemen Volunteers enlisted in the cause of Liberty - I'll find you present pay and free quarters, & I'll lead you where you shall fill your knapsack with Plunder ... [etc.]". John Bull answers: "Wounds, Measter Sarjeant, an I should enter into your sarvice, what'll Varmer-George say to I, for leaving of 'en without warning? ... [etc.]" Sheridan stands between Alecto and John Bull; from his fife issues a label inscribed: ''Tho' I am but a very silly Lad Yet as Piping Men cannot be had, For want of a better I may do, To give you a tune with my too, too, too, my too-too too &c &c.' Fox is saying: Then come, my Lad, our glory share, Let your honest heart, British Valour crown, At Freedom's call to our Standard repair, And follow the beat of my tow, row, row - my row, row, row - &c &c. Stanhope runs off to the right and in his right hand is a letter: 'To Lord Stanhop[e] from W. Pitt.' He says: "Ah this damn'd threat'ning caution from my brother in law Billy, has put me into a terrible funk; - I must be off & leave the Black-Sarjeant to muster up recruits without me: - well if the recruits should grow riotous, & do any mischief I cannot be blamed: - thank Heav'n I have scratched my name out of his muster Book: but however it is best to be off, before the review - oh zounds! I'm in a terrible funk - a damn'd funk indeed." The door of the Crown & Anchor Tavern is immediately behind Fox and Alecto. From it issue flames and smoke in which imps and demons are flying.

Associated names
Fores, S. W., publisher.
Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915-1986, former owner.
Classification
Department
Century prints