By James Gillray.
At lower right of caption title: dedicated to the Duke of A------ [i.e.Argyll] Vide - A bold stroke for a Husband.
Print shows Miss Gunning astride a cannon directed against the façade of 'Blenheim'. Her mother is firing the cannon by putting her pen to the touch-hole; from its muzzle issue flames and letters inscribed : 'forged Love letter', 'Letter from Marq: of Blan[dford] written by myself', 'Letter written by my Daddy', 'Letter forged by my Mother', 'Letter forged by myself', 'Letters in Answer to my self''. In the central window in the portico of Blenheim are the bare buttocks of a figure emitting a blast of excrement. Miss Gunning is saying, "O Mother! Mother! my mask'd Battery is discovered, & we shall be blown up! - O Mother, Mother, we must raise the Siege immediately, & take refuge under the Duchess's cover'd way, & there act on the defensive: O Mother: Mother, its all your fault, say what you will!" Mrs. Gunning says, her left hand raised in horror, "Good Heavens! who could have thought that the Seige of a Coronet would have ended in smoke & stink! - well I'll take my affidavit that I know nothing at all about the matter". The Duchess of Bedford, stands to the right, raising her hooped petticoat to form a shelter; she says, "Come under my Protection, deary's I'll hide you in Bedfordshire; & find one of my little Granny-boys, to play with Missy". On the left General Gunning, wearing regimentals, walking away from the scene and saying, "I find our Stratagem wont take effect, & therefore I'll be off; & menœvre; - any common Soldier can lead on, to an attack, but it requires the skill of a General to bring off his forces with honor after a defeat - ".