1721.
1. An emblematic print on the South Sea. W. Hogarth inv. & sc. Sold by Mrs. Chilcot in Westminster-hall, and B. Caldwell, Printseller in Newgate-street. "Persons riding on wooden horses. The Devil cutting Fortune into collops. A man broken on the wheel, &c. A very poor performance." Under it are the following verses:
See here the causes why in London
So many men are made and undone;
That arts and honest trading drop,
To swarm about the Devil's shop (A),
Who cuts out (B) Fortune's golden haunches,
Trapping their souls with lots and chances,
Sharing 'em from blue garters down
To all blue aprons in the town.
Here all religions flock together,
Like tame and wild fowl of a feather,
Leaving their strife religious bustle,
Kneel down to play at pitch and hustle (C):
Thus when the shepherds are at play;
Their flocks must surely go astray;
The woeful cause that in these times
(E) Honour and Honesty (D) are crimes
That publickly are punish'd by
(G) Self-Interest and (F) Vilany;
So much for mony's magic power,
Guess at the rest, you find out more.
Price One Shilling.[1]
It may be observed, that London always affords a set of itinerant poets, whose office it is to furnish inscriptions for satirical engravings. I lately overheard one of these unfortunate sons of the Muse making a bargain with his employer. "Your print," says he, "is a taking one, and why won't you go to the price of a half-crown Epigram?" From such hireling bards, I suppose, our artist purchased not a few of the wretched rhimes under his early performances, unless he himself be considered as the author of them.
Of this print emblematic of the South Sea, there are, however, two impressions. The second, printed for Bowles, has been retouched.
[1] For some further account of this design, see the article Man of Taste, under the year 1732, N° 7.
2. The Lottery.[1] W. Hogarth inv. & sculp. Sold by Chilcot and Caldwell. "Emblematic, and not good." This plate is found in four different states. In one there is no publisher's name under the title. Another was sold by Chilcot, &c. A third was printed and sold by S. Sympson, in Maiden-lane, near Covent Garden. A fourth was printed for John Bowles, in whose possession the plate, which he has had retouched, remains. The following explanation accompanies this plate: "1. Upon the pedestal, National Credit leaning on a pillar, supported by Justice. 2. Apollo shewing Britannia a picture representing the Earth receiving enriching Showers drawn from herself (an emblem of state lotteries). 3. Fortune drawing the blanks and prizes. 4. Wantonness drawing the numbers. 5. Before the pedestal, Suspence turned to and fro by Hope and Fear. 6. On one hand, Good Luck being elevated is seized by Pleasure and Folly, Fame persuading him to raise sinking Virtue, Arts, &c. 7. On the other hand, Misfortune oppressed by Grief, Minerva supporting him points to the sweets of Industry. 8. Sloth hiding his head in the curtain. 9. On the other side, Avarice hugging his money. 10. Fraud tempting Despair with money at a trap-door in the pedestal." Price One Shilling.—Had not Hogarth, on this occasion, condescended to explain his own meaning, it must have remained in several places inexplicable.
[1] It appears, from the following notice in the General Advertiser, Dec. 12, 1751, that this and the foregoing print were re-published by Bowles during the life of Hogarth.
"Lately reprinted, designed, and engraved by Mr. William Hogarth.
"Two Prints on the Lottery. One of them showing the drawing of the Lottery by Wantonness and Fortune; and by suitable emblems represents the suspence of the adventurers, the situation of the fortunate and unfortunate.
"The other print is a burlesque representation of the folly and madness which inspires all ranks of people after lottery-gaming, with the pernicious consequences thereof. Price One Shilling.
"Sold by J. Bowles, at the Black-horse, in Cornhill."