Earlier imprint of S.W. Fores at bottom left, with date of "April 2d, 1787," has been burnished out; new imprint of J. Jarvis added on the bottom right.
Attributed to Gillray by George.
Library's copy trimmed within plate mark.
"Lord Lansdowne is about to force down the throat of the Duke of Richmond a part of his model fortifications which are on a dish beside him. These are in the form of a semicircle of gun-embrasures, each marked with a letter of the word '[F]ORTIFICATION'; Lansdowne stands behind Richmond, who is seated, holding him by the arm, with the letter 'F' in a spoon which he holds before Richmond's mouth; Richmond starts back in alarm. The blind Barré, touching the wall to guide himself, enters from the right, leading by the empty right sleeve a lean and erect military officer with a wooden leg, who holds a long spear. On Richmond's table is a paper: 'Morning Post Tuesday March 6th 1787. Marquis La . . s . . . n; This Letter if his Grace thought proper, he would send him under cover to refresh his convenient & accomodating Memory-- Lords Debates'. On the wall (left) behind the table is a plan of fortifications inscribed 'Cherbourg', above it is a scroll inscribed 'en le rose je fleurie' (the Lennox motto, cf. BMSat 7160)."--British Museum online catalogue.