The Speaker Putting the Question
by
H. B.
"H. B." was the pseudonym of John Doyle (1797 - 1868), an Irish painter and cartoonist. Doyle made his reputation primarily with horse and other animal paintings, although he was much sought after as a miniaturist as well. But it is for his political drawings and caricatures that Doyle became most famous — or anonymously famous, one might say, for the true identity of "H. B." was carefully and successfully protected for over twenty years.
This image, published on 30 March 1832, satirizes the creation of the Newfoundland legislature — the "Bow-Wow Parliament" as it was disparagingly called — in 1833. (Doyle figured to get a jump on things by publishing his critique of the Newfoundland parliament before it ever convened!)
The members of the Newfoundland Parliament are here represented as a pack of dogs, with the Speaker being portrayed by — of course — a Newfoundland dog. The Speaker is saying "As many as are of that opinion say ... Bow! Of the contrary ... Wow! The Bows have it."