Banknotes

S.W.Fores No. 24, for Self, Be-just & Fear-not, 5 Farthings, 1 September 1818, promising to pay ‘Ignorance, Hypocrisy & Fanaticism, Methodist Preachers, or Bearer, when Methodism shall have been done away by the Pious exertions of the established Clergy, and when John Bull’s Family shall be no longer scared by the tale of the Devil let loose’, signed Moral Rectitude and No Cant, with a vignette showing a Methodist preacher, and the caption ‘I give ye this consolation - You’ll all be Damned’ and the poem ‘For Modes of Faith, Let fiery Zealots fight, He can’t be wrong, whose life is in the right. Mind not one word, such stupid fellows say, Fear the true God and mend your sinful way, very fine £100-£150

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

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This note is a vitriolic attack on Methodism. This would likely have been a popular position to take in London, as Methodism was, at this time, taking root in rural and proto-industrial communities around the country, and was feared to be stirring up radical politics as well. The note could also be ironic, but there are less hints than usual that this might be the case.