The tottering pyramid .

A pyramid of heads supported on a rectangular base, in front of which lie a badger (left), representing North, and a fox (right), their tails crossed and held together by a ribbon. In a central medallion above the animals' tails is a profile with the head of Fox superimposed on that of North, as in BMSat 6183 but reversed. A scroll draped from each animal's head across the medallion is inscribed 'Interest, & Ambition'. The apex of the pyramid is the head of Fox wearing a laurel wreath and saying, "If his Highness Wags a Feather I'm down". The head beneath him is that of the Prince of Wales wearing a coronet with the words 'Ich Dien' and decorated with the three feathers, the central one supporting the head of Fox, The Prince says, "It deserves an Increase of Establishment to be thus Situated". The Prince's head rests upon that of Burke, in profile to the left, and that of North to the right Burke says, "Mine is not an Œconomical Situation" (alluding to his Bill for Economical Reform); North says, "I wish I was Uppermost". These two heads rest on the mitres of three bishops, all full face and poorly characterized. That on the left is identified in a contemporary hand as Hinchcliffe (Bishop of Peterborough and Master of Trinity, noted for his liberal opinions). The other two are probably Shipley, Bishop of St. Asaph, and Watson of Llandaff; these three had opposed the American War, and were prominent Whigs. The bishops rest on four heads, those on the outside being in profile, the other two full-face. Lord John Cavendish, in profile to the left, says, "I cannot fall much lower"; next him is the Earl of Surrey, then Keppel, then Powys, saying, "Landed Interest, and yet I am neither Top nor Bottom". Five heads form the base of the pyramid: the third and fourth from the left, facing each other, are Lord Carlisle and the Duke of Portland; the fifth, in profile to the right, may be intended for Sheridan. Cf. British Museum online catalog.