Charles Williams
The Night Mare yor – or – Magistratical Vigilance
London, T. Tegg (Nov. 1816)
Etching
Original hand-colouring
240x350mm
£220
The interior of a thieves’ kitchen. The inmates, two men and two women start back in horror and a dishonest watchman swigs a glass of gin, as they are caught red handed with stolen goods by Matthew Wood the Lord Mayor of London. Wood, in a long blue coat (a good portrait), creeps quietly down the basement stairs followed by his constables. He was elected for a second term as Lord Mayor, and as an active magistrate and proponent of law and order, he was known to take part in police raids, arresting several suspects personally. BM 12816.
