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Photo, Print, Drawing A sawney in Ireland trying to pass for an American gentleman

[ digital file from b&w film copy neg. ]

About this Item

Title

  • A sawney in Ireland trying to pass for an American gentleman

Summary

  • The "sawney" (i.e., fool or simpleton) is New York "Herald" editor James Gordon Bennett. The artist gives a comic portrayal of Bennett's celebrated public rebuff by O'Connell in the Corn Exchange in Dublin in August 1843. The print probably appeared in September, when the incident was reported in Bennett's rival New York papers, including the "Courier and Enquirer." Bennett's embarrassment had been reported in British papers in August, and the print bears the subtitle "Second edition revised by "our" Corps of Reporters." The interior of the Corn Exchange is shown. Thomas Steele (with visored cap, far left) has just presented O'Connell with ". . . the Card of an American Gentlemen, Mr. James Gordon Bennett of New York, with whom I have not the pleasure of an acquaintance!" O'Connell holds a paper marked "Repeal Rent" and has let the card fall to the floor. Rising from his chair he replies: "He is just the very Man that we don't want here. He is the Editor of the Vilest Gazette that ever disgraced the Press in any Country, the New York Herald. a more infamous Paper, I suppose never existed!" On the exchange floor, making an undignified exit right is Bennett, who comments, "For the distresses and social evils of the gallant People of Ireland, I have as an American, a sympathy less expansive than Mr. O'Connell's but equally as sincere a hand that may not dive as deep into their pockets." He holds a copy of the "Herald," which says "Black-Mail Buckingham . . . Black-Mail O'Connell . . ." English lecturer Silk Buckingham had charged Bennett with attempting to extort money from him, and O'Connell made mention of this charge in his attack on Bennett in the Corn Exchange. Bennett's paper opposed American support of the repeal movement, and helped to undermine this support by publishing O'Connell's speeches condemning American slavery. (See also "Race between Bennett and Greely for the Post Office Stakes," no. 1843-4, for another reference to "Black-Mail.") Spectators on the floor and in the galleries comment in English and Gaelic. A "Repeal" banner is prominently displayed.

Names

  • Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857.
  • Robinson, Henry R., -1850.

Created / Published

  • N.Y. : Litho. & published by H Robinson, 1843.

Headings

  • -  Bennett, James Gordon,--1795-1872
  • -  Buckingham, James Silk,--1786-1855
  • -  O'Connell, Daniel,--1775-1847
  • -  Steele, Thomas,--1788-1848
  • -  Ireland--Politics and government--1837-1901
  • -  New York herald--1840-1850
  • -  Journalism--1840-1850
  • -  Slavery--1840-1850

Format Headings

  • Banners--1840-1850.

Genre

  • Banners--1840-1850

Notes

  • -  Entered . . . 1843 by H. Robinson.
  • -  Litho. & published by H Robinson 142 Nassau St. and 124 Fulton Sts. N.Y.
  • -  Probably drawn by Edward Williams Clay.
  • -  Title appears as it is written on the item.
  • -  Weitenkampf, p. 71.
  • -  Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)
  • -  Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1843-3.

Medium

  • 1 print : lithograph on wove paper ; 32.8 x 47.1 cm. (image)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • PC/US - 1843.R661, no. 90 (B size) [P&P]

Source Collection

  • American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

Repository

Digital Id

  • cph 3b37757 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b37757

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2008661404

Reproduction Number

  • LC-USZ62-91414 (b&w film copy neg.)

Rights Advisory

  • No known restrictions on publication.

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

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  • Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
  • Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-91414 (b&w film copy neg.)
  • Call Number: PC/US - 1843.R661, no. 90 (B size) [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Clay, Edward Williams, and Henry R Robinson. A sawney in Ireland trying to pass for an American gentleman. Ireland, 1843. N.Y.: Litho. & published by H Robinson. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2008661404/.

APA citation style:

Clay, E. W. & Robinson, H. R. (1843) A sawney in Ireland trying to pass for an American gentleman. Ireland, 1843. N.Y.: Litho. & published by H Robinson. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2008661404/.

MLA citation style:

Clay, Edward Williams, and Henry R Robinson. A sawney in Ireland trying to pass for an American gentleman. N.Y.: Litho. & published by H Robinson. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2008661404/>.