Three doctors converge around John Pitt, 2nd earl of Chatham, as their patient; representing the embarrassment of the failed Walcheren Expedition in Flanders. Coloured etching by C. Williams, 1809.

  • Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830.
Date:
September 1809
Reference:
12203i
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Description

A doctor who is taking John Pitt's pulse says: "Your pulse is going with uncommon expedition indeed my Lord, you have too much blood in you, you must lose a few ounces." Pitt replies: "Don't mention that word again doctor, it brings on a flushing in my face, and sets in a palpitation." Sir William Curtis (dressed as a sailor) approaches Pitt from the right with a steaming bowl of soup and saying: "You'll find my soup, is the best thing in the world for palpatations, it always cures me speedily and soon. I hope you'll be well enough to come to our jollyfication on the 25th." A John Bull figure retorts: " Pho Pho! Doctor your wrong! tis only a flushing in the face for D--e if I think he has a bit of blood in him." On the wall are two maps, one of "Walch" referring to Pitt's military failure at Walcheren, and one of "Quiberon Bay" in Brittany, referring either to a great naval victory over France by Great Britain under the leadership of William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham, in 1759, or to a millitary defeat of the French royalists and their British allies by the French republicans at Quiberon in July 1795

Publication/Creation

[London] (7 Cornhill) : Walker, September 1809.

Physical description

1 print : etching, with watercolour ; platemark 25.4 x 36.4 cm

Lettering

Which is right or regular and quack opinions on the flushing fever. In one thing only, thats the fee, doctors you'll find ere agree.

References note

British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. VIII, London 1947, no. 11368

Reference

Wellcome Collection 12203i

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