The Wimbledon hoax! or Waterloo review!!!

1816. Double-sided preparatory drawing in graphite with watercolor and ink on light-weight cream wove paper, 19 1/4 x 8 7/8 inches (487 x 224 mm), the full sheet. Signed boldly in brown ink, lower right image area. Uniform age tone, marginal wear including some minor areas of edge wear and two very minor associated losses at the lower left sheet edge. Colors appear to be slightly attenuated. There are three tabs of archival tape at the top sheet edge, verso; at right corner, left corner, and center. All condition points are entirely consistent with the age and nature of the paper and media. Multiple inscriptions in ink and graphite in Cruikshank's own hand. A maquette for the engraved image of the same title, used as the frontispiece to The Scourge, xii, published on June 18, 1816, by J. Johnson Cheapside, London. Impressions of the engraving for which this is a study may be found in the collections of the British Museum and the Yale University Library. Holiday-making 'cits' drive, ride, and walk (right to left) on a dusty road, in the direction of a sign-post (right) pointing 'To Wimbledon' (left); the opposite arm points (right) to Battersea. On the extreme left is the back of a coach, with outside passengers, one with a huge frothing tankard. A fat man trudges between two women, followed by a bloated dog. A 'cit' on a bucking horse follows. Next is a family party: a fat woman carrying an infant, her lean husband holding a bag and a telescope, and dragging a go-cart in which sit four young children, while a chimney-sweep stands on the back of the cart, followed by another hanging to his coat; a child angrily threatens them with a coral and bells. Two meretricious-looking women walk arm-in-arm, closely followed and ogled by two absurd men in extravagant dandy costume, also arm-in-arm. These have enormous bell-trousers. Driving beside these two groups is John Bull with his wife and four children in a two-wheeled cart drawn by a lean horse, flogged into a gallop. The cart is inscribed 'J.B Tax Cart N° 1816'. Behind him a would-be dandy drives a lady in a gig. In the background is the front of the procession which has turned to the right on to open common, where are tents, a swing, with a large bonfire to which men are dragging a whole tree, just cut down.

- The British Museum

"A false report of an intended review at Wimbledon drew a great crowd and booths were erected. The heath on Combe Wood was fired, and it was feared that this might incite the disappointed mob to set the wood on fire. The two inns could supply drink but not eatables, which added to the disorder. The arrival of the Guards restored tranquillity. Actually, a Waterloo commemoration banquet was held in Windsor Park."

- M. Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum,' IX, 1949.