A Break, losing the Reins Matthew Cotes Wyatt Entrance to St Katharine's Dock

Entrance to St Katharine's Dock

This 17th century building was originally the residence of the diplomatist Sir Paul Pindar

It is a satire on the depositions of the Douglases which led to the 'Delicate Investigation' of 1806

'Catching an elephant'

In the foreground water vessels can be seen on the river with figures unloading cargo

A Break, losing the Reins Matthew Cotes Wyatt Entrance to St Katharine's Dock'A Break, losing the Reins', 1830. Prime Minister the Duke of Wellington and Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel about to fall from a vehicle, hauled by a horse (Alderman Hunter) and an ass (Alderman Key), which has shattered on a rock inscribed 'Public Opinion'. Wellington's government was so unpopular that Hunter and Key (who was Lord Mayor of London at the time) felt compelled to cancel the 1830 Lord Mayor's Show due to fear of rioting.