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The Plumb-pudding in Danger, -or- State Epicures Taking un Petit Souper, 26 February 1805

 Item — Box: LF104/8 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/8/4

Scope and Contents

Artist: James Gillray. Published: Hannah Humphrey. Pitt (left) and Napoleon face each other at a round dinner-table on which, in a dish, is a terrestrial globe in the form of a steaming plum-pudding. Pitt, with a carving knife, and three-pronged fork (like a trident) planted in the '[Atlantic] Ocean', cuts a deep gash to the west of 'Britain', extending from the Pole to the Equator; he obtains the 'West Indies'. Napoleon, using his sword and a two-pronged fork which straddles 'Hanover', is cutting from Europe a large fragment including 'France', 'Holland', 'Spain', 'Swiss[erland]', 'Italy', 'Mediterranean', but missing 'Sweden' and 'Russia'. Before each is an empty (gold) plate, on Pitt's the Royal Arms, on Napoleon's an imperial crown. On the back of Pitt's chair is a crowned British Lion on its hind-legs, holding up a Union flag; a fierce imperial eagle clutching a bonnet rouge decorates that of Napoleon. Pitt, very tall and thin, wears a cocked hat and regimentals and long pigtail. Napoleon, sturdier and much shorter, has almost to rise from his chair to reach the pudding. He wears military dress, a huge plumed bicorne resting on his shoulders. Pitt looks warily at Napoleon who stares fiercely at the pudding. The figures are seven-eighths length. Below the title: '- "the great Globe itself, and all which it inherit" [sic, 'Tempest', iv. i], is too small to satisfy such insatiable appetites - Vide Mr W-d-m's [Windham's] eccentricities, in ye Political Register.' (For Windham as a contributor to Cobbett's paper). Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 26 February 1805

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

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