Williams

Charles Williams
Like Isaac Cruikshank, Williams was just below the great names, however this should not detract from realising the breadth and quality of his work. Much of his work was done for Fores, who was one of the leading publishers of satires in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His early pseudonyms include “Ansell” and “Argus”. The dates above are when he is known to have been working.

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	C. Williams. The ghost of crim-con OR A check to Speculation. Published M 8th, 1808 by S. W. Fores No, 50 Piccadilly. 13¾ x 10. Uncoloured and on laid paper with small margins. On paper with a watermark of 1803. The naked Ghost/Devil is explaining that the damages that are being given in Crim Con cases are now quite low, and though, “formerly indeed I was worth the pursuit, but lately I have dwindled to a mere shadow….” The result is that the husband is now unlikely to get damages of £50,000, which is the amount on the paper protruding from his pocket. B. M. 11119. £50.
	Caricature. DISMAL DANDIES – or – General Mourning & Crape. Published by Thos. Tegg 111 Cheapside London. Numbered 326 to right. 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour, with some staining of the margins. Good margins to the top and the base small margins to the sides. On paper with a watermarked date of 1819. A finely dressed soldier removes his hat and addresses his friend saying. “Adieu Col! Crape! I’m for Court that’s the place, For exhibiting trappings, and making a Face!!” The friend replies. “And I to Parade! that with my humour chimes For Parade and Paradeing’s the Ton of the Times.” Not in the B.M. £145.
	C. Williams. PARSONS IN FULL SCENT. Published January 5th 1803 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 13 x 9¼. Original colour. Trimmed to the outer black line of the image. Some creasing and two small marks top left. On laid paper, with a small repaired tear between the words, in and full, in the title. The fat vicar and his curate have hunted down the scent of roast pig and have arrived to claim their share. The John Bull figure, hides the pig behind his back and says, “Indeed your glorious Reverences we had nothing but a little Eggs and Bacon, I scorns to tell a lie your Honour…I attends your Sarmints to much for that.” Not in the B. M. £100.
	C. Williams. SKETCHES OF FAIRYLAND or a Comparison between England & Lilliput. Pl. 1 & Pl. 2. Published by, Thos Tegg 111 Cheapside. (Dec. 1810). 13¾ x 9¾ (both). Original colour with good margins. Plate 2. Has an old crease lower right, but not over the image area. Each image has a sarcastic comment on what happens in Lilliput; which in reality is what happens in England. Thus, the lower central image, on plate 2, says, “In Summer the Beaus are buttoned to the chin, and the Ladies go half naked, can any thing be more absurd”. B. M. 11581 & 11582. £285. The pair.
	C. Williams. Dramatic Action Illustrated, or Hamlet’s advice to Players….. Thos. Tegg III Cheapside. Price 1/- color’d. (The B. M. has a suggested date of 1811). 13¾ x 9½. Original colour with good margins. The title carries on “suit the Action to the Word, and the Word to Action. Dedicated to the celebrated Amateur of Fashion.” B. M. 11770. £185.
	C. Williams. SYMPTOMS OF MARCHING - QUICK TIME. Published October 24th 1803 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour with small margins. Two small tears on the left, one just entering the image and slight damage on the main notice on the wall. On of the many invasion prints. Here two short men in regimentals hasten with furtive looks past an inn on which the main poster says, “Twenty guineas reward. Whereas To Cowardly Platoon in Red Jackets hearing of the enemy landing have deserted….” B. M. 10116. £85.
	Williams. VAGARIES OF NATURE AND ART - or - Curiosities of the Parade. Published 1819 by Tegg. 13 ¾ x 9 ½. Original colour with reasonable margins. A satire on the Prince of Wales exotic taste in uniforms. B.M. 13058. £225.
	Williams. THE THREE BEST PHYSICIANS. - Dr. Diet - Dr. Merryman and Dr. Quit. A Hint to Hippocondriacks. Published by Tegg, c.1813. 13" x 9 ¼". Original colour; trimmed almost to the image. Dr. Merryman is the one kicking Death out of the door. B.M. 12157 £200.
	Williams. BRITISH GRACES. Attireing the Circassian Venus in the English Costume. Published 1819 by Tegg. 13 ¾ x 9 ¾. Original colour with reasonable margins. In April the Persian Ambassador and his wife, who was known as ‘the Circassion Beauty’ arrived in London, with two attendants supposed to be eunuchs. Here she is being dressed in tight laced English clothes. B.M. 13393. £150.
	Williams. THE DEVONSHIRE MINUET. Published May 29th 1813 by Wm. Holland No. 11 Cockspur Street. This image is printed on paper with a watermark of 1815. 13 x 9¾. Original colour with reasonable margins. George III and the future Prince Regent were known to have had rows about Princess Charlotte flirting with the Duke of Devonshire. This image shows Princess Charlotte and the Duke of Devonshire, not caricatured, dancing the minuet together, they are both portrayed as a very handsome pair. There are two groups of interested spectators; the ladies are seated whilst the gentlemen stand. B.M. 12052. £140.
	C. Williams (?) after Woodward. MISERIES OF HUMAN LIFE. No publication line, but a Tegg issue with the number 301. 13½ x 9¾. Original colour with very small margins on three sides and at the top the plate mark is just showing. A watermark of 1819 and two small nicks at the top, but both above the top of the title. Set in Smithfield market as the text below explains, problems, in the shape of two bulls can be experienced by the unwary. Not in the B. M. £125.
	C. Williams. NAP nearly NAB’D or a Retreating Jump Just in Time. After the title is added “Never dick trusty squire with knight Or knight with squire, e’er jump more right, vide Bonny Russian Campaign. Plate 7. Published by Thos. Tegg No, 111 Cheapside, June 1813. With a Tegg No. 203. 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour, with small repaired tears into the margins. Napoleon leaps in terror from a window. Another French officer steps onto the sill about to follow, saying “Vite courez Mon Empereur Ce Diable de Cossack dey spoil our dinner!!” In the background, Cossacks gallop across a snowy landscape towards the house. This image also turns up on pottery of the time – see David Drakard ‘Printed English Pottery.’ B. M. 12058. £175.
	Williams. Making - Decent; - i.e. – Broad – bottomites getting into the Grand Costume. Published February 1806, by S. W. Fores No 50 Piccadilly. 9¾ x 13¾. Original colour with small margins. This is one of the many engravings Williams produced for Fores copying Gillray’s designs. Members of the new Ministry are preparing themselves for office. Both Fox and Grey are looking into a pier-glass which is surmounted by the Royal Arms and Prince’s feathers. This is indicating Carlton House and the Prince’s ‘ostentatious patronage’ of the new Ministry. Grey is seen brushing his teeth, behind him stands Sidmouth. Vansittart is puffing powder from a bag onto Sidmouth. In the foreground, Lord Henry Petty is strutting with pointed toe. Windham, behind him sits in a tub. Lord Grenville is seen hitching-up his breeches. Moria is standing stiffly with his back against the wall. The Duke of Bedford sits on a stool pulling on a top boot, resting his leg on Tierney. Behind Bedford, Sheridan struggles with a shirt. Lord Spencer is washing his hands in a basin on the table. Erskine is adjusting his hat. They are all self-absorbed in their pursuit of finery. ‘Grand Costume’ suggests the official dress of the French Directory, a favourite subject of Gillray. B.M. 10531. £240.
	C. WILLIAMS. THE RIVAL QUEANS – OR A SCENE IN THE BEGGARS OPERA. Published March 1809 by Walker. Cornhill. 13½ x 9½. Original colour on laid paper and trimmed onto/within the plate mark, but well outside the image and with slight marks, with a watermark of 181(?). The Duke of York stands between Mrs Clark on the left, and Mrs Carey. Both had been mistresses of the Duke, and although he had been cleared of corruption, he had resigned from his position in the army. This was also the time when Mrs Clarke had threatened to publish her memoirs. B. M. 11277. £130.
	Williams. DRAMATIC EFFECT or the Death of Gen Duroc. Published by Wm. Holland No. 11 Cockspur Street London. June 9th 1813. 12¾ x 9¾. Original colour, trimmed onto/within the plate mark at the base, small margins to the top and sides. Napoleon stands holding the hand of the dying Duroc; with his other hand, he covers his face. Duroc is saying to him, “My whole life has been consecrated to your service nor do I regret its loss but for the use it still might have been of to you!” Napoleon replies, “Duroc! there is a life to come; its there you are going to wait for me and where we shall one day meet again!” Duroc replies, “Yes Sire! but that will not be these thirty years, when you will have triumphed over your enemies and realised all the hopes of your country. I have lived an honest man; I have nothing to reproach myself with ah! Sire go away this sight gives you pain” – Napoleon, “Farewell then my friend.” Duroc was mortally wounded at Bautzen on the 21st May and died on the 23rd May. B. M. 12061. £145.
	C. Williams. THE APOSTATES AND THE EXTINGUSIHER – or – KISSING THE POPE’S TOE. Published February 23rd 1829 by, J. Fairburn Broadway Ludgate. 14½ x 10¼. Original colour with good margins. Wellington kisses the Pop’s toe with Peel kneeling beside him. Other pro Catholic comments and objects dominate the image; for instance the papal bull is chasing off the British bulldog in the right hand corner. This shows the rage many felt at Wellington and Peel as ‘Apostates’ in their move towards a measure of equality for Catholics. B. M.15665. £235.
	Williams. DOS A DOS or RUMPTI IDDITO IDO. – NATURAL ACCIDENTS IN PRACTISING QUADRILLE DANCING. Published by S. W. Fores No. 50 Piccadilly London. May 1817. 14 x 10. Original colour, on laid paper with reasonable margins. A satire of dancing. Two couples collide violently registering surprise and indignation, whilst others look on in amusement. B. M. 12933. £200.
	Williams. THE TRANSITING OF VENUS OVER THE SUN’S DISK. Published April 1809 by Walker Cornhill. 9¾ x 14. Original colour on laid paper. Very small margins and a repaired tear to the left star point. Some crinkling and slight damage on the corners as this item has been in an album. A watermark of 1817. The main face is that of the Duke of York and the small head inside the five-pointed star is the head of Mrs. Clarke. From the collection of Lord Kenneth Baker. B. M. 11303. £165.
	Williams. GENIAL RAYS, OR JOHN BULL ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE. Published June 1810 by Thos Tegg 111 Cheapside. 13¾ x 9½. Original colour with reasonable margins. Some marks on the lower left but outside the engraved area. A happy reclining John Bull looks up at the head of Burdett is in the centre of the sun. The rays of which are inscribed, ‘Magna Charta, Loyalty, Reform, Laws of the Land’ etc. B. M. 11563. £185.
	Williams. John Bull on a Bed of Roses. Published July 1806 by William Holland Cockspur Street. 14 x 9¾. Trimmed onto/within the plate mark and with original colour, very minor staining. John Bull is portrayed as a plebeian, stout and dishevelled lies on his back on a tangle of large roses with vicious thorns. He is exclaiming, “Oh Lord! Oh Lord! if this be the Bed of Roses they make such a noise about I’d sooner lye with the Old Sow and her Farrow in the Dog Days! – My Dame will roar woundidly when she comes to bed! Ecod it’s as bad as lying on a Harrow upside down!” This is satire on the long awaited plan of Windhams for the reorganisation of the army. It was based on short service, increased pensions, the abandonment of grants to volunteers, and military training for those liable to service in the militia. B. M. 10583. £190.
	Williams. THE WRYMOUTH CANDIDATES or the Strangers at Home. No publication line on this print or on the B. M. example. (? June 1814). 14¾ x 10¾. Original colour, trimmed onto/within the plate mark at the top and bottom with reasonable margins at the sides. A small tear at the bottom, just into the image. An incorrect ink date of 1808 bottom right and slight abrasions to the paper. This is about the election of 1812, and the consequences, which resulted in 1813, three of the four members returned being excluded, as there was proof of bribery and treating. On June 15th 1814 three other members were returned and they are shown here. B. M. 12284. £139.
	Williams. First Going Alone. Published by Thos. Tegg. Cheapside. (1810). 9 x 13½. Original colour and trimmed to the engraved border with slight loss top left. “Sweet little Baby, how it toddles along – Oh Bless those pretty legs of thine. I’m sure thee will become LORD MAYOR, and mayhap a MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.” B. M. 11616. £85.
	C. Williams. PERUSING THE STATE PAPERS. or Sounding the Opinions of John Bull. (Before the addition of the publication line. The B. M. example is published March 1808 by Walker, No.7 Cornhill). This example has ‘March 1808’ added in ink. 14¼ x 10¼. Original colour and small margins. Slight crinkling of the paper top right corner. Napoleon on the left with John Bull. A British General wearing a star and the Duke of Portland. The B. M. suggests that the subject of the print may be the measures and counter-measures of the Continental system. B. M. 10971. £160.
	Charles Williams. THE TRIUMPH OF INDEPENDENCE OVER MAJESTERIAL INFLUENCE AND CORRUPTION. Published March 8th 1805 by S. W. Fores Piccadilly. 13¾ x 9½. Original colour on Whatman wove paper with reasonable margins. Burdett stands dismissing Mainwaring. After the 1805 Middlesex election Mainwaring won by five votes. Initially this was contested although Mainwaring kept the seat. B. M. 10372. £145.
	Williams. A PORTUGAL CATCH FOR THREE VOICES. Published October 1808 by S.W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 14 x 10. Original colour on laid paper. Small margins with a tear top left corner just into the image and another on the left margin but not into the image. Dalrymple sits on the right and is faced by a British officer and a man in Portuguese dress, (perhaps Freire). An inexperienced Dalrymple took over from Wellesley and refused to follow up the victory at Vimiero by the pursuit of Junot. From the collection of Lord Kenneth Baker. B. M. 11042. £150.
	Williams. A RIDDLE EXPOUNDED OR THE DIGNITY OF A PARSONS HORSE. Published by Thos. Tegg. 111 Cheapside. (1807) 13½ x 9½. Original colour with small margins. Slight marks, mainly outside the plate mark. The jovial rustic says. “…..why – A Parson’s Horse be like a King.” The answer is, “Why you rogue, because it is guided by a Minister.” B. M. 10904. £120.
	Williams. John Bull contemplating a Statue of Portland Stone. Published April 1807 by Walker No 7 Cornhill. 14 x 10. Original colour and with large margins. Portland was deaf gouty and infirm and only a figurehead. Here he sits, statue like, and with a placard hanging around his neck, “Repaired and Whitewashed in the year 1807”. An elderly John Bull says, “I really thought this Statue was gone to decay a long time ago!!....” B. M. 10718. £125.
	C. WILLIAMS. Skaiting - Dandies, Shewing Off. Published by Thos. Tegg, 111 Cheapside. (c. 1818). 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour and small margins. A typical dandy scene. The dandy skaters are falling over in exaggerated incompetence while in the distance others skate well. They are being watched by a group of ladies on the left. B. M. 13074. £185.
	Williams. ALL THE TALENTS UPSET OR THE HIGH METTLED HANOVERIAN GROWN RESTIVE. Published April 1807 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 14 x 10. Original colour on laid paper. Small margins on three sides and trimmed onto/within the plate mark at the lower edge. The King, shown as the white horse of Hanover, kicks out at members of the Ministry. While Howick and Grenville, (who clutches a torn, ‘Catholic Bill’), are thrown from the saddle. John Bull stands on the left saying, “Dang it he has kicked um off at last zure enough! Aye, Aye, it was that cursed Catholic Bill tickled his rump and set him a Kicking”. B. M. 10716. £185.
	Williams. POLIITICAL BALANCE - Unexpected Inspection – or a good old Master takeing a peep into the state of things himself. Published by T. Tegg 111 Cheapside. (1816). 13¾ x 9½. Original colour with small margins on three sides and trimmed onto/within the plate mark at the top. Slight marks with a watermark of 1818. The side of the balance, which is weighed down, has only government bills on it. They relate to the regulations regarding the price of corn. Around one side are the rocks of ‘Abyss of Corruption’. On the other side are provisions, including bread, and underneath is a starving peasant. On the left is the King who says, “----pull away those d—d heavy Corn Laws, and Butter and Cheese Laws; let the prices find the level & come within the reach of my distressed people…” B. M. 13497. £180.
	Williams. BLESSINGS OF BRITAIN - or – SWARM OF TAX GATHERERS. (Published 1817 by Tegg). 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour with small margins. A satire on the distress and heavy taxation of 1816, which greatly increased the poor rates, and many saw the only hope in Reform of Parliament. Here John Bull is shown defending his house from a swarm of tax gatherers with a large stake inscribed ‘Prop of Reform’. B. M. 12863. £200.
	Williams. A FRIENDLY VISIT TO THE DRAMATIC MANUFACTORY or Preparations for Next Season. Published February 6th 1804 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 13½ x 9½. Original colour on wove paper with a watermark of 1802. Trimmed onto/within the plate mark and let into an old album sheet. Very small repaired tear, top centre. Sheridan sits with a large playbill in his hand. The Newfoundland dog, ‘Carlo’ who played in the ‘Caravan’ holds a basket of papers which includes, ‘Raw Materials for New Subjects’; ‘Dog-matical Essays’, Bark-shire Poems’, Bones to Pick’. Fox pats the dog on its head. A satire on the profits that came from the success of the dog ‘Carlo’ in ‘The Caravan’. Accusations of managers preferring pantomimes or performing animals to the standard dramatists are a recurring theme. B. M. 10226. £135.
	Williams. THE GIANT REFRESHED. Published May 21st 1804 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 10 x 14. Original colour on laid paper with small margins. A semi circular printers crease top left. A tipsy Pitt towers above John Bull and says, “….You and I shall never fall out any more – I feel quite a different Man – quite refresh’d.” John answers, “Refresh’d you say, why I think you seem pretty fresh indeed….” B. M. 10245. £140.
	Williams. JOHN BULL’S FIRST VISIT TO HIS OLD FRIEND THE NEW SECRETARY. Published March 3rd 1806 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour on laid paper with very small margins. Slight marks. A cheerful John Bull faces Fox and says that he is expecting great changes given what Fox had said while in Opposition. Fox replies “….but you know it’s a difficult task to alter things once they were done, to be sure I did cry down the Union, but it would be dangerous to alter it now……” B. M. 10539. £145.
	Williams. JUSTICE. Published in the ‘Bon Ton magazine’ 1st August 1820. 5½ x 8½. Uncoloured on laid paper with reasonable margins. Justice holds up the scales, which show that Caroline outweighs Castlereagh, Canning, Sidmouth and others. B. M. 13784. £40.
	C. Williams. A TRIP TO COVENTRY an Old Dance to a New Figure. Published June 2nd 1802 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 10 x 15¾. Original colour on laid paper with small margins. Slight paper loss, lower right corner has been repaired. The elderly figure with the two sticks is been identified as Lord Coventry; at his feet lays songs on the theme of old men with girls. B. M. 9930. £125.
	C. Williams. MORE HUMBUGS – or – ANOTHER ATTACK ON JOHN BULLS PURSE. Published April 1818 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour on laid paper with small margins. Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Prince of Hess-Homburg, walk arm in arm in Green Park. John Bull looks glumly over his shoulder as the Prince says, “Why I be come for your goods.” Elizabeth’s sisters walk behind and are talking of getting husbands for themselves. B. M. 12986. £140.
	C. Williams. A NAVAL ENQUIRY WITH A NAUTICAL EXPLNATION. Published March 25th 1805 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour on wove paper with small margins. The five Commissioners of Naval Enquiry are examining Trotter and Lord Melville (Dundas). The chairman asks, “But how did you come by the money.” Trotter gives a convoluted reply, which Melville agrees with. Melville was impeached for his shielding of Trotter although he was acquitted. See the ‘banknotes’ in the General section of the catalogue for one other relating to Trotter and Melville. B. M. 10377. £120.
	C. Williams. THE EX-MINISTER AND THE METEOR. Published April 13th 1804 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 9¾ x 13¾. Original colour, on laid paper with small margins. A tear at the bottom not reaching the publication line, and some handling marks, mainly in the two lower corners. Pitt, in full Parliamentary declamatory mode, faces the irradiated grotesque head of Sheridan. Sheridan had answered Pitt’s motion for an inquiry into the Navy for the government. In his speech Pitt had referred to Sheridan’s “fiery face”. B. M. 10235. £180.
	C. Williams. THE CASTING VOTE OR THE INDEPENDENT SPEAKER. Published April 24th 1805 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 9¾ x 13¾. Original colour on wove paper. Trimmed onto/within the plate mark and let into an album sheet. Slight marks. On April 8th Whitbread moved eleven resolutions, which went far beyond the findings of the ‘Tenth Report’. Fox savagely attacked Melville, and Pitt proposed counter measures to help Melville. The vote was tied and the Speaker gave his casting vote against Melville. The following day saw Melville’s resignation. B. M. 10391. £120.
	C. Williams. TERM BELOW OR THE ROAD TO RETRIBUTION. Published 1818. By T. Tegg, 111 Cheapside. (Very faint printing on the publication line). 13¾ x 9½. Original colour with reasonable margins. A watermark of 1822. Some marks but outside the image. A traditional theme of judges and barristers on their way to hell. Here they are led by the devil that rides the skeleton of a horse. Among the following riders are Ellenborough, who rides the tiger and Eldon. The theme is the traditional one of “the lawyers last circuit”. B. M. 13011. £200.
	Williams. THE PATRIOT PUZZLED or the trusty Scot producing his Vouchers. Published August 1811 by S. W. Fores 50 Piccadilly. 13¾ x 9¾. Original colour on laid paper and trimmed onto/within the plate mark. There is a small split at the top, above the word ‘Scot’. Burdett and Horne Tooke are on the left and Lady Oxford and her brother William Scott on the right. A satire on the case that Burdett brought against Scott, in the Edinburgh Court of Sessions. B. M. 117344. £100.
	C. Williams. FAIR WEATHER - MARCH WINDS - FOULE WEATHER. Published April 1809 by Walker No. 7 Cornhill. 13½ x 9½. Original colour and trimmed onto/within the plate mark and a repair bottom right, but outside the image. Crease and thin paper top right corner. On the left the Duke of York swaggers towards the gate of the Horse Guards and the weather is good. On the right is the bad windy weather and the Dukes clothes have suffered and he wears no sword or spurs. B. M. 11302. £90.