A drinking song set to music with an illustration of a drunken party. Engraving and etching by G. Bickham junior, 17--, after G. Monro and W. Hogarth.

1700-1799

1 print : engraving and etching ; platemark 32.5 x 19.9 cm

The releif; or pow'r of drinking set by Mr. Monro. ... for the flute. Bickham junr. sculp. Lettering continues with two verses of song: "since drinking has pow'r for to give us releif, come fill up ye bowl, & a pox on all grief; if we find that won't do, we'll have such another, and so we'll proceed from one bowl to ye other, till like sons of Apollo, we'll make our wit soar, or in homage to Bacchus fall down on ye floor. 2 Apollo and Bacchus were both merry souls, they each of them lov'd for to toss off their bowls; then let's try to show our selves men of merit, by toasting those Gods in a bowl of good claret, and then we shall all be deserving of praise; but ye man that drinks most, shall go off with ye bays." Bears number "10"

The engraving of the drunken party is an a adaptation of the print "A midnight modern conversation" by William Hogarth, ca. 1732. Composer of music inferred to be George Monro from songs of similar date in the Bodleian Library catalogue

Wellcome Collection 26259i