Skip to main content

The Bear and his Leader, 19 May 1806

 Item — Box: LF104/8 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/8/72

Scope and Contents

Artist: James Gillray. Published: Hannah Humphrey. Grenville (right) displays a dancing bear with the head of Fox enclosed in a muzzle. He holds a chain attached to the muzzle and a long heavy staff: 'Cudgel for Disobedient Bears'. The bear obediently and clumsily repeats the dancing-step of his master; he holds in both paws his bonnet rouge trimmed with tricolour, and tramples upon two torn and discarded songs: 'Caira, Ca . . .' and 'A Begging we will go' [an allusion to the subscription raised for Fox in 1793 [This is confirmed by Lord Holland]. The bear and Grenville face each other in profile; the latter is neatly dressed, wearing top-boots with round hat and bag-wig. In his pocket is a book: 'Rewards for Obedient Bears'. He says: "dont be afraid of my Bear, Ladies & Gentlemen! \ "I have tamed & muzzled tarn, & reformed his Habits." The rest of the troupe is on the left, behind the bear's back. An ape with the head of Lord Henry Petty, and wearing the gown of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, capers in time, clasping the bear's stump of tail, and holding up, with a delighted grin, a fool's cap trimmed with bells. The music is provided by Sidmouth, a ragged fiddler, with a patch over eye. He stands on the pavement, his head in profile to the right., wearing cocked hat, bag-wig, and Windsor uniform, with tattered breeches, and a foot projecting through a remnant of boot. His r. knee rests on a wooden leg or stump. He plays 'God save the King' [as a protégé of George III]; from his the pocket hangs a paper: 'Pray remember your poor and Old Blind-Fiddler'. On the wall behind him are three bills: (1) 'Pro Bono Publico - Superbly fine Exhibition, at the Bear Garden, Broad-bottom'd Alley. - Orpheus Charming the Brutes, with a Grand Accompaniment by Dr Sangrado [Sidmouth]'. (2) 'in the Press. - Pease Soup or Bruins Delight - a Ballad'. (3) 'Bubble & Squeak, a Duet.' After the title: ' - "what tho' I am Obligated to Dance a Bear a Man may be a Gentleman for all that, - My Bear ever dances to the Genteebtt of Tunes" - [Goldsmith, 'She Stoops to Conquer'].' Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: 19 May 1806

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