Drumming Out of the Regiment!!

Date1798

Publisher William Holland

MediumHand-colored etching and line engraving, aquatint

DimensionsTrimmed past the plate marks: 12 1/4" X 15 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1960-122

DescriptionLower margin reads: "London Pub.d by W. Holland N.o 50 Oxford S.tr Febr 7.th 1798 / Drumming out the Regiment !!"Label TextThe Duke of Norfolk walks in round-shouldered and dejected immediately before a fifer and a drummer. One who represents William Pitt the Younger is beating a drum. The other, (possibly William Windham) is shown playing a fife. On his back is a placard: "Washington/ 2000 Men/ make the Application./ Champion of/ Liberty./ Sovereign/ Majesty./ People &&." In front of him Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville marches stiffly, holding a pike; he wears bands. In the background are two spectators; Charles James Fox, full face, his handkerchief to his eye, and Richard Brinsley Sheridan, turning towards him with a cocked forefinger. From the window on the extreme right looks the king, a telescope to his eye saying: "Drum away, Billy!! I wish they were all drummed out!!"ProvenanceBefore 1960, the Old Print Shop (New York, NY); 1960-present, purchased by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).