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An episode in Old Mortality by Sir Walter Scott, chapter 2: Lady Margaret Bellenden on a horse beside her carriage and entourage, watches people shooting at a model bird on a pole, the game of the popinjay. The game is held to conclude wapenshaw or agethering of troops: "The sheriff of the county of Lanark was holding the wappen-schaw of a wild district, called the Upper Ward of Clydesdale, on a haugh or level plain, near to a royal borough, the name of which is no way essential to my story, on the morning of the 5th of May, 1679, when our narrative commences. When the musters had been made, and duly reported, the young men, as was usual, were to mix in various sports, of which the chief was to shoot at the popinjay, an ancient game formerly practised with archery, but at this period with fire-arms. This was the figure of a bird, decked with party-coloured feathers, so as to resemble a popinjay or parrot. It was suspended to a pole, and served for a mark, at which the competitors discharged their fusees and carabines in rotation, at the distance of sixty or seventy paces. He whose ball brought down the mark, held the proud title of Captain of the Popinjay for the remainder of the day, and was usually escorted in triumph to the most reputable change-house in the neighbourhood, where the evening was closed with conviviality, conducted under his auspices, and, if he was able to sustain it, at his expense." (Scott, loc. cit.)

1 print : engraving ; image 8.2 x 13.4 cm

Troops attending a muster in Scotland play the game of popinjay, watched by crowds of local people. Engraving by J. Carter, 1836, after R.B. Davis.

See Wellcome Library catalogue no. 26245i for the print after this drawing of the library
The London Institution was founded in 1806. At first meetings were in a house, then a building was erected in Moorfields in 1819 at the behest of a number of charitable subscribers. As well as a fine library, the building housed a lecture room, used for scientific demonstrations. The Institution was demolished in 1936

1 drawing : pencil, with some inking over lines ; image 11.4 x 16.1 cm

The London Institution: the interior of the library. Drawing by H. Ansted, 1824.

The London Institution was founded in 1806. At first meetings were in a house, then a building was erected in Moorfields in 1819 at the behest of a number of charitable subscribers. As well as a fine library, the building housed a lecture room, used for scientific demonstrations. The Institution was demolished in 1936
See Wellcome Library catalogue no. 26246i for Ansted's original drawing of the library

1 print : line engraving ; image 11.3 x 16.1 cm

The London Institution: the interior of the library. Engraving by J. Carter after H. Ansted, 1824.

1 print : engraving ; image 10.4 x 17.1 cm

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Troops attending a muster in Scotland play the game of popinjay, watched by crowds of local people. Engraving by J. Carter, 1836, after R.B. Davis.

The London Institution: the interior of the library. Drawing by H. Ansted, 1824.

The London Institution: the interior of the library. Engraving by J. Carter after H. Ansted, 1824.

Textiles: a pair of large presses for block printing calico. Engraving by J. Carter after T. Allom, 1834.

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Troops attending a muster in Scotland play the game of popinjay, watched by crowds of local people. Engraving by J. Carter, 1836, after R.B. Davis.

The London Institution: the interior of the library. Drawing by H. Ansted, 1824.

The London Institution: the interior of the library. Engraving by J. Carter after H. Ansted, 1824.

Textiles: a pair of large presses for block printing calico. Engraving by J. Carter after T. Allom, 1834.

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