Catalogue Number
NMLH.2026.15
Object Name
handkerchief
Title
The Glorious Reform In Parliament
People
Isaac Robert Cruicshank, Robert Peel, Duke of Wellington
Events
Reform Act
Date
1832
Description
Fabric handkerchief with designs relating to the Reform Act of 1832. The title at the bottom is The Glorious Reform in Parliament. The designs on the handkerchief copy a satirical print of the same name in the style of Isaac Robert Cruicshank and published by Alfred Miller. The handkerchief was likely hand coloured, but these colours have faded, leaving the main design in a pale brown, and some detailing in blue. Around the edge is a floral boarder.
A tall central column divides anti-Reformers on the left, from Reformers. On the column stands Lord J Russell holding up the mirror of 'Truth', with the Reform Bill in his other hand. The base of the column is inscribed with the words 'King and Constitution', and text down the length of the column reads 'Lord J Russell and REFORM disenfranchise 60 Rotten Boroughs' and then has a list of these areas. These are towns who would likely lose an MP with the Reform Bill.
The Tories, in the bottom left of the handkerchief attack the column with weapons and are attempting to topple it with three ropes. At the front are Wellington - holding an axe inscribed 'Blood' - and Peel - wielding a pickaxe. The rest of the group are holding weapons, inscribed 'riot' and 'war and revolution'. Spurred boots, and gloves are right at the bottom, with the words 'corruption' and 'bribery'.
In the bottom right are the Reformers, two men hold a scroll between them, which contains a list of names. A speech bubble reads 'We are for our King and People. The Bill the whole Bill and nothing but the Bill'. An anchor with the words 'God Save King William' in a scroll around it, is leaning against the column.
In the top left of the handkerchief a scene titled 'Vox Populai Dissolution of Parliament' shows King William IV, explaining why he is dissolving parliament, whilst MPs show shock, collapse and run away.
In the top right, an image with the title 'Speed the Plough The Country as it will be' has two foll cornucopias suspended above a man ploughing, with rays of sun titled 'Peace & Plenty'.
The Rotten Borough system meant that many large towns such as Manchester and Birmingham had no member of parliament, while towns with tiny (or non-existent) populations did. Before the Reform Act was passed in 1832 more than 140 out of 658 parliamentary seats were in rotten boroughs.
In the very top left corner is a paper label which has been added later. The label is from the Bucks Archaeological Loan Exhibition 1905 and gives handwritten details of the object and who had loaned it to that display, G H Tomlinson.
