The city election is further illustrated by an engraving called, “A Stir in the City; or, some Folks at Guildhall,” which represents various groups of citizens and persons prominent at the time, assembled before the Guildhall, while the six candidates are borne along on a long frame with six seats, and supported on men’s shoulders, the procession being headed by a bishop; the party is received in state by the sheriffs, who are assuring the prelate, “as my Lord Rabbi,” that “the Guildhall is not the Synagogue,” and “no sons of Levi have place here;”—in general, the bishops supported the Naturalization Bill. Dr. Ward, then before the public as an advertizing pill-vendor, is from his coach distributing quack nostrums; he is acknowledging that “not one will cure an Election Fever.” Gascoyne and Mary Squires, the gipsy, crooked and leaning on her staff, are represented, with Hogarth beside them; this refers to the charges against Squires brought by Elizabeth Canning, and proved false on further investigation by Sir C. Gascoyne, who retired from the city canvass, and successfully contested Southwark. Candidates for Hertford, Winchester, and other places are also introduced. A group of Jews stand by the Guildhall; one cries, “What a shame it is we have no votes!” Sampson Gideon is present, and another is confidentially remarking to him, “Tho’ you can’t vote, Sampson, you may still do business there;” to which the contractor replies, in reference to his expectation of sitting in parliament had the Act to remove the disabilities of the Jews continued in force, “I thought to have voted in another Building;” while a lean Hebrew neighbour whispers, “You have an excellent hand at a Lottery, all the world knows.” Orator Henley, standing in his tub, is recommending his butcher friends from Newport Market to convert the voters into Jews; and a hawker is crying, “Sir Andrew Freeport’s Address [to the Livery of London] for nothing.” The state of the polls for London and Oxfordshire are also given.
Of the six candidates carried in chairs, two and two, Sir John Barnard (at the head of the poll, 3553), is saying, “These are my fellow-citizens; I must not forsake them in my old age, for I always loved them.” Slingsby Bethel (3547), as president of the Free British Fishery Society, promises “the Herring Fishery shall thrive.” Beckford (2941) is made to declare, “I’ll vote for a new Bridge [Blackfriars]; but not for a new Jew Bill.” Sir R. Ladbrooke (3390) is present, and so are the defeated candidates, Sir Richard Glyn, and, at the bottom of the poll, Sir W. Calvert, with the Jew Bill in his pocket—for which he asserts he “only voted!”
A further explanation of the allusions conveyed in this satire is afforded by the verses which accompanied the design:—
“O! see my Raree Show, good Folks,
All you who love Election Jokes,
You, John a Stiles! and John a Nokes,
Doodle, Doodle, Do.
“See Mr. Sheriff with his wand
Has put the Bishop at a stand,
Who takes Guildhall for Holy Land.
“There’s Sampson, full of discontent,
Because he’s not in Parliament;
Which was his very heart’s Intent.
“See Henley, with his surgeons there,
For Jew conversion all prepare,
Butchers cure cases, I declare.
“Sir Andrew Freeport has his eye
Upon the List and the Livery,
Fox, Barnard, Bethel, Beckford cry.
“A Beauty, Mistress Squires, see,
For Mr. Hogarth and I agree,
Beauty’s a Lane as crooked as she.
“There Doctor Ward, with looks demure,
Is giving his pills, but he is sure
Election fevers have no cure.”