British and Irish Banknotes

Sand Hill & Somerset Bank, for Taunton, Chard, Upcot, Norton & Co., promising to pay ‘Thomas Buckler Lethbridge our sapient Representative five grains of sand when the Phisical cause of his ‘Hair standing on end’ shall be radically cured and on his Son of the (Blood of the Despards) supporting the Liberty of the Subject and Trial by Jury’, 21 June 1810, with a vignette of the tower of London, the River Thames, and a figure intended to be Sir Thomas Lethbridge whose hair is standing so far on end that he has lost his hat, saying ‘Burdett Frightn’d I’, splits and small holes, very good to fine, rare and fascinating
Outing 4073 £150-£200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Sir David Kirch Collection of Skit Notes.

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In 1810, Sir Thomas Lethbridge, who was MP for Somerset, spoke for many in government when he gave a speech in parliament that heavily and directly criticised an open letter published by Francis Burdett, one of the most famous reformers of the era. The letter was highly radical, and resulted in Burdett being committed to the Tower of London. However, many people - across all levels of society - considered Lethbridge directly responsible, and consequently he received death threats, had his windows smashed, and was even hunted by a mob. He beat a retreat to the country and did not rejoin parliament until the following year.
This skit note tells the entire story of these events, with the creators being very clearly critical of Lethbridge.