A cart laden with turnips has arrived in Westminster, and is discussed by King George II and his ministers; representing the introduction and maintenance of Hanoverian troops in Great Britain. Etching, 1743.

Previous title, replaced September 2023 : A cart load of turnips carrying a woman is pulled across a courtyard followed by an army of men on horses. Engraving.

Horse Guards Parade in Westminster, with, on the left, the new Treasury Block designed by William Kent and built 1733-1736. On the first floor balcony stands King George II, holding a broom. On the parade ground below him a cart laden with turnips has arrived, on which is seated Amalie von Wallmoden, Countess of Yarmouth, the king's Hanoverian mistress.The turnips are described as "H-r t-ps", i.e. Hanover turnips. Around the cart stand some of George II's ministers who had been divided on the question of maintaining Hanoverian troops in Great Britain. The Hanoverian troops enter the parade ground on the right. To the right of the Treasury Block is the northern part of 10 Downing Street, with a pediment added in 1732-1735, removed probably 1781-1783, restored in 1937 and removed again ca. 1964. In front of that is the wall between the Downing Street houses and the Horse Guards

"At this time there prevailed throughout the country an extreme dislike to the employment of Hanoverian troops in England, and the Cabinet was averse to proposing their continuance in British pay; till Walpole, though no longer in power, persuaded the ministers not to insult the king, and showed that, under the circumstances of the country, it was sound policy to retain these troops. When the question was debated in the House of Commons, 260 members voted for retaining them, 193 against this. Lord Perceval (afterwards Earl of Egmont) spoke in favour of retaining them, and made use of the expression, 'The popular circumstance in which I stand.' Pulteney, who had always opposed the Hanoverian influence, now spoke strongly in favour of retaining the troops, as did also Sandys, whose former Opposition speeches are displayed on the wall. Hanover was satirically called the 'Turnip garden,' and the lady on the cart was probably Madame Walmoden, a mistress brought by the king from that country, and created Countess of Yarmouth; see 'The Scotch Patriot', No. 2450. As to the remark of Sandys, see H. Walpole's " Letter to Mann", Feb. 18, 1742, edit. 1857, which explains it, by a speech made at the Fountain Tavern, Strand, and illustrates other inscriptions on this print. This print is announced in 'The gentleman's magazine', 1743, p. 55…."--F.G. Stephens in the British Museum catalogue, loc. cit.

King George II, looking down from the Treasury Block balcony, shouts out "Pay for ye whole, Sandys, I'll sweep the Treasury clean"; he wields a broom to emphasize his threat. Below him a Treasury official holding exchequer tally sticks (one pair united and one pair split) says "Let me be Sandys, I'm not squeamish". Below the balcony stands Sir Robert Walpole, recently retired as George II's Prime Minister, saying "Ha Sandys you've a short reign". The cart in front of Walpole is pulled by three horses. The Countess of Yarmouth sitting on top of the turnips says "Thank you Sr for ye honour you've done me & your man Will". In front of her stands Samuel Sandys, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, saying "Stop boy they shall buy th'all." He is addressing John Perceval, Independent M.P. for Westminster, who stands at the head of the horses holding a paper labelled "Independent"; the words "Deceive all" are written on his coat. In the left foreground William Pulteney, Earl of Bath, is seen in profile holding a bunch of turnips and saying "Honest friend Sandys rejoice & sing here's Hanover turnip will now come again Ho". In the right foreground, a British taxpayer falls to his knees clutching a bunch of turnips saying "By God these turnips are dear". Right, Hanoverian soldiers on horseback, including a military band, enter the parade ground, one of whom proclaims "For us 260"; their leader carrying the Hanoverian standard says "They shall go down". On the far wall hang sheets of paper printed with speeches by Samuel Sandys and with parliamentary papers on the matter: a seated woman street vendor is offering them for sale at a halfpenny each

1743

1 print : etching ; platemark 21.6 x 33.9 cm

The H-r t-p man come again ...

British Museum Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. III part ii, London 1877, pp. 458-459, no. 2578

Wellcome Collection 579657i