Gillray, James (1756 – 1815) – ‘London Corresponding Society alarm’d, Vide Guilty Consciences’.

'London Corresponding Society alarm'd, Vide Guilty Consciences'. Hand coloured etching. 'Pubd. April 20th. 1798. by H. Humphrey 27 St James's Street'. The London Corresponding Society meet around a table in the basement of an inn. The tankard on the table tells us this is the 'Tom Treason Hell-Fire Celler, Chick Lane'. The book open on the floor identifies the characters as 'Ts Firebrand Secretary', 'Forging Sam', 'Barber Joe' [central with his back to us], 'Dick Butcher' [to the barber's left], 'Dissenting Nick', 'Sheepshead Will' and 'Cut down Lary'. On the wall behind them are portraits of Horne Tooke and Tom Payne. The chairman reads a paper announcing the arrests of O'Conner, Binns, Evans, and Quigley, all members of the Corresponding Society, in February 1798. By April all of the committee of the Society had been arrested and in July 1799 it was suppressed by name in an Act against seditious and treasonable societies. 10x7.5 inches.