(John Phillips pseud Sharpshooter after William Heath)
Recruiting Party. Nows your Time my Lads – Whigs & Tories – Christians Jews and Turks – No distinction made.
London, S. Gans (June 1829)
Etching
Original hand-colouring
255x350mm
Slight overall browning
£150
The stiffly erect figure of the Duke of Wellington, as a recruiting sergeant, stands on the seashore, saluting King George IV (seen in backview). He drops a large coin into the outstretched hand of James Scarlett (later Baron Abinger), who wears an enormous cockaded busby and his lawyer’s robes and bands. On the right stands Lady Conynghame in military coat and busby, banging a drum, while behind stands Peel playing a military fife. In the background stand more recruits – yokels with favours in their hats. Although a Whig, Scarlett succeeded Sir Charles Wetherell as Attorney-General in Wellington's administration on 29th June 1829, reserving to himself the right of acting independently of the government on the question of reform. BM 15812.