A perspective view of Westminster Hall, with both Houses of Parliament assembled on the Tryal of Simon Lord Lovat

Date1747

Publisher Thomas Bowles II (ca.1689 - 1767)

Publisher John Bowles (1701 - 1779)

OriginEngland, London

MediumLine engraving on laid paper

DimensionsOverall: 15 1/2 × 9 1/2in. (39.4 × 24.1cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1932-114

DescriptionLower margin reads: "Publish'd according to Act of Parliament 1747/ A Perspective View of Westminster Hall, with both Houses of Parliament./ assembled on the Tryal of SIMON LORD LOVAT./ Also a View of the Peeresses their Daughters of the Foreign Embassadors & the rest of y.e numerous/ Company as they were ranged on the Scaffolding erected on that Solemn Occasion./ 1. The Kings Chair on the Throne. /2. Prince of Wales Seat. / 3. Duke of Cumberlands Seat. / 4. A Chair for the Ld High Steward./ 5. Ld High Steward remov'd from his Chair. nearer the Bar for the conveni-/ ency of hearing. / 6. The two Arch Bishops. / 7. Bishops on Two Benches / 8. The great Officers of State Dukes and / Marquisses on the front seat. / 9. The Barons seated/ behind the Dukes. 10. Earl & Viscounts./ 11. The remainder of the Barons Seated behind the Earl & Viscounts./ 12. The Master of the Rolls./ 13. The Head Master in Chancery./ 14. The Judges Siting on the inside of/ Woolpacks and the Masters in the Chancery/ siting on the outside./ 15. The Serjeant at Mace./ 16. Lord High Stewards Purse bearer./ 18. Four Mace Bearers & L.d High Stewards/ Gentlemen all of them Standing./ REFERENCES to the Scaffolding round the HOUSE of LORDS/ A. The Speaker of the House of Commons./ B. The Members of the House of Commons on the side seats./ D. The Soliciters & Clerks belonging to the Managers./ F. Lord Lovat at the Bar with the Lieutenant/ of the Tower on his Right hand & the/ Gentleman Jailers with y.e Ax on his left/ G. The Witness giving Evidence./ H. The Prisoners Council./ I. Writer taking the Trial./ K. The Kings Box with a Velvet Chair, and/ Ladies on 6 Rows of Benches./ L. The Prince of Wales/s Box with Ladies/ Seated on 6 Benches./ M. A Box with Benches for the D. of Cumberl.d/ Princesses & their Attendants, behind/ this Box was 3 Benches for the use of the/ Lord High Stewards Family & 1 Bench/ for the L.d Chief Justice./ N. The Box where Prince Amelia Sat during ye Trial./ O. The Box for Foreign Embassadors./ P. Peeresses & their Daughters on 4 Benches./ Q. Seats for Peers Tickets besides these on the/ Side, there were 9 Seats in front for ye Peers Tickets./ R. The D. of Ancasters Gallery at y.e South end of y.e/ Hall, containing 17 Rows of Seats holding/ 860 People. At the Northend was another/ Gallery belonging to the same Duke filling/ y.e whole space behind y.e Commons & the/ Benches for Peers Tickets./ S. Gallery belonging to y.e Board of Works, & y.e Vice Chamber./ T. The Earl of Oxfords Gallery./ N.B. All the Seats were Cover'd, & Scaffolding hung with Red Bays, excepting where the Houses of Commons Sat & that was cover'd with Green Bays/ Printed for Tho.s Bowles in S.t Pauls Church Yard & John Bowles at y.e Black Horse in Cornhill."
Label TextThis view depicts the trial of Simon Lord Fraser which took place in Westminster Hall in London in March 1747. Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat (c. 1667-1747) was a Scottish Chief of Clan Fraser of Lovat and Jacobite leader. He was arrested and charged with treason after Scottish forces were defeated at the Battle of Culloden which was the final battle of the Jacobite rising of 1745. His trial was a public spectacle that lasted 7 days. Both Houses of Parliament were in attendance as were members of the royal family and nobility. Scaffolding was brought in to seat the crowd. Fraser was ultimately convicted of treason and executed in April 1747.