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The Pleasures & Miseries Of London

April 1, 2017
by the gentle author

Written anonymously and published in 1820, The Tour of Dr Syntax Through the Pleasures & Miseries of London was one of a popular series of comedies featuring the idiosyncratic Dr Syntax, a character originated by William Coombe and drawn by Thomas Rowlandson. These plates are believed to be the work of Robert Cruikshank, father of George Cruikshank.

Dr Syntax & his Spouse plan their trip to London

Setting out for London

Arriving in London

Robbed in St Giles High St

A Promenade in Hyde Park

A Flutter at a Gaming House

At an Exhibition at the Royal Academy

At a Masquerade

In St Paul’s Churchyard on a Wet & Windy Day

Inspecting the Bank of England

Presented to the King at Court

A Night at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

A Visit to the House of Commons

A Trip behind the Scenes at the Opera

A Lecture at the London Institution

Going to Richmond on a Steam Boat

Reading his Play in the Green Room

Overshoots London Bridge & pops overboard into the Thames

Images courtesy of Bishopsgate Institute

You may also like to take a look at

Tom & Jerry’s Life in London

More of Tom & Jerry’s Life in London

The Microcosm of London

The Microcosm of London II

George Cruikshank’s Comic Alphabet

George Cruikshank’s London Almanack 1835

5 Responses leave one →
  1. April 1, 2017

    What fun!
    That’s a very modern looking building they arrive to.
    And noticed many green umbrellas.

  2. Lucy permalink
    April 1, 2017

    Ideas for an updated version?
    A wet and windy day in the slipstream of the Shard
    A flutter at Paddy Power
    Scrolling through Celeb on Buzzfeed
    Pellicci’s is closed and has to go to Pret A Manger

  3. Helen Breen permalink
    April 1, 2017

    Greetings from Boston,

    What a fun collection! I particularly enjoyed “Inspecting the Bank of England.” Their museum is one of my favorite spots in London – contains dozens of illustrations by James Gillray, a predecessor of Cruikshank’s in artistic satire.

    Wow, the Bishopgate Institute really preserves so many treasures. Thanks for sharing…

  4. Marino Marino permalink
    April 1, 2017

    Delightful meander through Georgian London with a pair of country cousins.
    The colors are from a box of Crayolas, so bright and unambiguous.
    Love the ‘Stretch Armstrong’ flexibility of the people.
    What a hilarious group of pictures to start my Caturday.

    Marnie Sweet
    Akron, OH

  5. Maureen Musson permalink
    April 2, 2017

    Love the “mansplaining” going on at the Royal Academy!

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