Item 28: Political Cartoon by Unknown, titled “Acted for the Benefit of the Ministry,” Published in The Political Register, 1771 July 1
Item — Box: 6, Folder: 28
Dates
- Created: 1771 July 1
Creator
- The Political Register (Organization)
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Engraving/Political Cartoon.
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
8 ¾ in. x 4 ¾ in.
Title:
Acted for the Benefit of the Ministry
Description:
This engraving depicts John Wilkes (1725-1797) (right) and John Horne Tooke (1736-1812) (left) in the midst of a fight. Wilkes is dressed as an alderman. In his right hand he holds a document labelled “Subscriptions to your Pamphlets”. Thrown past his head are scrolls labeled “Wilkes’ Address to the Freeholders of Middlesex”. He and Tooke are standing on a book labeled “Political connections” and on a scroll labeled “Horne’s letter”. Opposing him is Tooke in clerical garb holding a scroll and a book labeled “Composition of Your Debts”. Also launched past him is a book labeled “Horne’s speech at Mile End” which refers to a speech given by Tooke while he and Wilkes were still allies. It was delivered to the freeholders of the county of Middlesex in which he brought to attention the abuses that were committed by the government on Wilkes after his flight to Europe. This piece, satirizes the conflict between Wilkes and Tooke which occurred after a falling out between the two. Their acquaintance began during Wilkes’ self imposed exile in France, where the two met and agreed to correspond. After Wilkes returned from Paris, he ran for election and was voted to Parliament for the county Middlesex with a great deal of help from Tooke who accommodated and directed Wilkes’ supporters while Wilkes himself was imprisoned in the King’s Bench. In February 1769, Tooke helped to found the Society of Gentlemen Supporters of the Bill of Rights, a group organized to oversee a subscription that would go towards paying off the substantial debt of Wilkes himself. By the spring of 1770, Wilkes had at least enough to stay out of debtor’s prison but Wilkes and Tooke fundamentally disagreed on how the money brought in by the club should be used. Wilkes wanted the money to go himself, while Tooke wanted to divert some to champion the broader progressive cause. The two began clashing personality wise as well, where Tooke saw Wilkes as being careless and Wilkes seeing Tooke as a drag. Tooke, angered by Wilkes’ posturing demanded that his debts be published so they may be settled, presumably to stop Wilkes from being beneficent to donation even after his debts were paid. In the engraving this is referred to in the book Tooke holds titled “Composition of Your Debts”. Their conflict came to a head in the printer’s case, in which Tooke wanted to help pay off the fines of printers who had gone against the orders of parliament, a proposal which Wilkes disagreed with. Ultimately the club would split up due to these differences, with Tooke and his supporters splintering off to form the Constitutional Society. Their falling out would become highly publicized by way of angry letters between the two being disseminated by the press. The scroll titled “Horne’s letters” is likely referring to these exchanges in which Tooke wanted to discredit Wilkes. Also references in this piece is Wilkes’s address to the freeholders of Middlesex in which he thanks them for their support. Overall the piece is titled “Acted for the benefit of the Ministry” which is likely a jab at Tooke, who was a Reverend in the Church of England, since his personal attacks on Wilkes could be seen as a betrayal of his position in the church. This piece was created for use in the conservative newspaper The Cobbett's Weekly Political Register likely to mock the disunity and perceived egoism of liberal figureheads.
Transcription:
Design[e]’d & Engrav[e]’d for the Political Register
{Papers held by Took from Left to Right:}
“Horne’s Speeches at Mile End”, “Composition of your Debts”
{Papers held by Wilkes from Left to Right:}
“Subscriptions to your Pamphlets”, Wilkes’s Adresseses to the Freeholders of Middlesex”
{Both men stand on a book titled:} “Political Connections”
{Wilkes stands upon a paper titled:} “Horne’s Letter” Acted for the Benefit of the Ministry.
{Both men stand on a book titled:} “Political Connections”
{Wilkes stands upon a paper titled:} “Horne’s Letter” Acted for the Benefit of the Ministry.
Creator
- The Political Register (Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu