Harry Jenkins, the masculine & feminine bellows mender : having declared his intention not to remain neuter in the Westminster Contest, is canvassed by the Duchess of D------e & coax'd by Mother Windsor, & absolutely poll'd for Lord John, on Monday July 28th, altho' he never had any habitation except a cow-house, a privy, a pig stye or a watch house.

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James Gillray
1756-1815
Harry Jenkins, the masculine & feminine bellows mender : having declared his intention not to remain neuter in the Westminster Contest, is canvassed by the Duchess of D------e & coax'd by Mother Windsor, & absolutely poll'd for Lord John, on Monday July 28th, altho' he never had any habitation except a cow-house, a privy, a pig stye or a watch house.
[London] : Pubd July 29th 1788 No 51 by H Humphrey New Bond Street, [1788]
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
1986.193
Published: 
[London] : Pubd July 29th 1788 No 51 by H. Humphrey New Bond Street, [1788]
Provenance: 
From the library of Gordon N. Ray.
Notes: 

By James Gillray.
A satire on the contested Westminster election of 1788.
Library's copy trimmed and mounted on paper backing.

Summary: 

Print shows a ragged, dwarfish man, a pair of bellows under his arm, his apron full of guineas, being led to the poll by the Duchess of Devonshire (right) and pushed forward by a florid over-dressed woman identified as Mrs. Windsor. Jenkins has a large head with a hairy chin and a feminine figure; the Duchess puts a hand under his chin and turns to look at the crowd on the hustings, who wildly cheer his approach. Both women have elaborate head-dresses with a fillet inscribed 'Townsend'. Mrs. Windsor has a damaged nose and a patched face; from her pocket protrudes a paper inscribed 'List of Mrs Windsor'[s] Nuns'. She is followed (left) by three of these 'nuns', who are pretty young women. On the hustings behind a wooden barricade Townshend raises his hat and holds out his hand towards Jenkins. Burke looks over his shoulder and Sheridan (on the extreme right) stands beside nun in profile to the left. The most prominent of those on the hustings is Fox, behind the Duchess, who waves his hat, raising both arms. Two poll-clerks, holding pens, sit in front of Townshend and Fox.

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