Hoo - Loo - Choo, Alias John Bull and the Doctors.
London: Thos. McLean, 1831. Hand colored lithograph by the artist John Doyle. A satirical look at the state of "John Bull" (the personification of Britain), during an intense period of political reform in Britain. John Bull is dressed in Chinese attire (a long striped jacket and enormous gray waistcoat), and wearing a pointed black cap, sits sprawled in an armchair and addresses Lord Grey. Bull says to Grey, "I can't say that my bodily health was ever better, or that I ever felt stronger, tho' to be sure I am not growing younger; but then every one is telling me how deformed I am grown of late & this tumour which I have had from my infancy is all a Mass of Corruption". Lord Grey responds, "" This deformity is quite inconsistent, believe me, with the nature of your Constitution, and therefore must be got rid of ... ". Lord Grey was in the process of attempting to push through parliamentary reform at the time, and a Reform Act was finally passed in 1832 which increased the (male) electorate substantially. Grey's colleagues depicted are Althorp, Russell, Peel and Wellington. With the initials HB at lower left, and "HB Sketches 124" at the upper right. 15 1/4 x 11 1/4 in. Slt chipped at corners, with short crease at lower right corner, o/w very good. Very good. Item #15103
Price: $175.00