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Political Ravishment, or The Old Lady of Threadneedle-Street in Danger!, 22 May 1797

 Item — Box: LF104/4 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/4/57

Scope and Contents

By James Gillray. The 'Old Lady' is a thin old harridan, dressed entirely in 'One' pound notes, and seated on an iron-studded treasure-chest inscribed 'Bank of England', fastened by two heavy padlocks. She shrieks and throws up her skinny arms at Pitt's advances: he has taken a long stride towards her from the right, his right hand round her waist; his left dips into a cavernous pocket and takes out guineas. Their profiles almost touch, and he appears about to kiss her. She shrieks: "Murder! - murder! - Rape! - murder! - O you Villain! - what have I kept my Honor untainted so long, to have it broke up, by you at last ? - O murder! - Rape! - Ravishment! - Ruin! - Ruin! - Ruin!!!" Pitt's hat lies on the ground; beneath it is a scroll headed 'Loans'. A lightly sketched arc of the rotunda of the Bank forms a background. Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 22 May 1797

Conditions Governing Access

Available by appointment in our Reading Room

Extent

1 Item(s)

Language of Materials

English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
+44 (0) 114 222 7299