Signs of the times. (BM 1868,0808.9110 1)

A bare boarded room, with an enclosure at each end and a counter parallel to the back wall, represents the office of "The Times" newspaper. In each box-like enclosure is a raised seat dominating the room; in one (left) Barnes sits at a desk scanning a galley-proof: he reads: 'Important from the East. Our old and faithful friends the Turks are quickly recovering from the shameful trick played them by the Ambitious Nicholas; through our honorable & most disinterested secret endeavours; And we shall soon dispose of half the Russians if they do not come to reason, that is, if they insist on punishing their enemies for insults we have not received, and with the most unjust inconvenience of our maritime influence. Hum!!!' On his desk is an hour-glass. In the other box John Walter has risen from his chair (on the back of which perches an owl) to take a purse from a Jew. The latter, in patched dress and a sack (of old clothes) over his shoulder, says: 'Sir, This with Master's & the Peoplesh compliments & hopes that you will handle pretty roughly those impertinent Spaniards who have lately so impudently attempted to re-conquer their own Colonies.' Walter: 'Sir, We are here for the good of the good people & shall always keep an eye upon Tampico, You may depend upon it our next advices will be filled with an account of the whole Spanish Expedition being routed'. His box is more dignified than that of Barnes, having side-curtains on projecting rods, on one of which stands a weathercock. Behind the chair is a bookcase filled with large folios. On the side of the box is a large framed placard: 'Notice—Old Mrs Truth and that thing called Real Patriotism, with their Friends, &c, are particularly requested not to intrude into this Office, without a Ticket of Admission from His M—j—stys M.n.s.t.r.s'.
With their backs to the counter two men stand side by side: a man in breeches and top-boots, clasping a purse, turns his head aggressively towards a servant in livery holding a paper; he says: 'What the Devil brought you here again, some fresh lies I suppose you have got from your M.x.c.n Master's Establishment'. The other answers 'Yes, and what is that to you my soft one'. Three clerks stand behind the counter. One faces a sturdy market-woman in a soldier's coat, with an apron looped round her waist, who says: 'I say here Mister I've got 20 murders 5 sham-fights & some extra lies for a penny each so let's have the browns.' The man answers: 'A penny each! Good gracious, why we know a great C—l—l, who will write twice as many for half the Money'. Next her stands a slim erect and dandified man wearing high corrugated boots with spurs, who says: 'I am Lt Col Nap . . r the great historian, and wish you to insert this upon my work as soon as possible. What do you require?' The clerk answers: 'A usual Sir. We will insert it immediately for the better vending such a wonderful Production!!!' In the foreground (left) a fashionably dressed Englishman in a furred and frogged coat and strapped trousers stands arm-in-arm with a plainly dressed, lank haired American in neat, well-fitting clothes, with a dangling eye-glass. Both hold slim umbrellas. The former says: 'Well Brother Jonathan here we are in that Office from whence emanates the prototype of all Newspapers in this Country. The most impartial, the most unchangeable and the most clever written paper ever Published'. The other answers, looking towards Walter, 'And from [what] I can see certainly the most Independent!!!' An old-fashioned design with the speeches in balloons or labels. 1829?

Hand-coloured lithograph