Exeter Election 1868 "Shakespeare illustrated" , "The Son of His Father"

Exeter Election 1868 "Shakespeare illustrated", "The Son of His Father".

A black and white lithograph illustration depicting a white middle-aged male dressed in plain clothes of the period along with a white clown ruff at his neck. His nose and chin are exaggerated, he has a dark moustache and side whiskers, wears a glass monocle and a rounded hat. He is sat facing the left of the frame on a wooden stool that features text reading 'TORY EXPENDITURE', hunched over a large pie with knife and fork on his lap labelled 'BOARD OF TRADE' and 'PLACE'. One of his hands holds aloft an apple labelled '£400 PT ANNU'. At his feet, in simple dark shoes, is the word 'RETRENCHMENT'. Above the image is central underlined text that reads 'EXETER ELECTION, 1868. "SHAKESPERE [sic] ILLUSTRATED." "LET ME HAVE MEN ABOUT ME THAT ARE FAT; YOND CASSIUS HAS A LEAN AND HUNGRY LOOK; HE TALKS TOO MUCH! SUCH MEN ARE DANGEROUS." Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene 2.' Below the image is central text that reads ' "THE SON OF HIS FATHER." YOUNG EDGAR HORNER SAT IN A CORNER, TASTING HIS FATHER'S PIE, HE PUT IN HIS THUMB, EXTRACTED A PLUM, AND SAID, WHAT A BRAVE SON AM I! "GET PLACE AND WEALTH, IF POSSIBLE, WITH GRACE; IF NOT, BY ANY MEANS GET WEALTH AND PLACE." Pope's Satire of Horace, Book I, Ep. I, line 103.' At the very bottom is a publishing note, depicted with a small hand pointing right and the text 'To be had of all Booksellers.'

This satirical poster is one in a series of ten illustrated by the artist G Palmer, published by the Devon and Somerset Steam Printing Company, created by the Tories inspired by lines from various works of Shakespeare (though with characters, scenarios and quotations coming from an additional mixture of literary sources.) This depiction of Liberal candidate Edgar Bowring (1826-1911) and the accompanying ditty references the nepotism that he privileged from in his candidacy, as he had no political experience but clearly benefited from his father's position (he was the youngest son of Sir John Bowring (1792-1872), a well-known figure of Exeter who was extremely well-travelled, acting as Governor of Hong Kong between 1854-1859, and an MP for a number of years. A bust of Bowring can be found in the Inner Library at the Devon and Exeter Institution.)

Regarding "MR. EDGAR BOWRING'S CANDIDATURE.", the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette reported on Friday 14 August 1868 that at a Radical meeting held at the Royal Public Rooms for "the purpose of deciding upon the second Radical candidate", "Mr. Bowring then came forward, and was greeted with partial cheering. He commenced by saying that he felt under some embarrassment at addressing them, and went on to say that in order to serve a constituency effectually as well as faithfully it was necessary that a man should lay aside his own personal and individual character, and endeavour to concentrate in himself the multiform hopes, wishes and aspirations of others...When he said that he was a Liberal by birth, he could best explain himself by acquainting them of a remarkable fact - that he was the son of his own father - (Great cheering.)" Perhaps it is Bowring's own words sardonically quoted back to him in this piece of Conservative propaganda.

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