Illustrated with twenty-four plates by T. Rowlandson. Royal 8vo.
Published by R. Ackermann, Repository of Arts. (See description of
_Doctor Syntax's Three Tours_, 1812.)
1821.
_May, 1821._ _A Smoky House and a Scolding Wife._ Published at 22
Marylebone Street, Portland Chapel.--A suffering mortal is seated at
an unfurnished dinner-table; the man's hands are clasped, his brows
are knit, and his lips tightly closed, in an effort to maintain
his patience and his temper under two exasperating provocatives to
violence. Placed before the bent-down martyr to domestic infirmities is
a phantom bone of mutton; presumably the husband has taken exception
both to the insufficiency of the joint and the superabundance of smoke,
which is eddying round in volumes, and is filling the apartment with
dense blackness; while his better half, sailing like a fury out of the
gloom, is an object to inspire terror in the boldest heart, and the
stings of the sharp tongue are apparently even more intimidating than
her nails or her knuckles, all of which weapons of offence are enlisted
against her pitiable helpmate.