Lettered with title, artist's name and publication line "E H L del G Cruikshank Sculp-/ Pubd Jany 27th 1817 by H Humphrey 27 St James's Street."
Library's copy trimmed within plate mark.
Three old women seated at a round tea-table listen avidly to scandal which a fourth woman fourth gloatingly reads from a pile of letters. The latter's gouty foot rests on a footstool; a parrot sits on the back of her chair; a cat and three kittens disport themselves at her feet and under the table. One of her listeners uses an ear-trumpet, another lets the hot water from the urn overflow the teapot and flood the table, whence it will reach the gouty foot. The table is enclosed by a curtain on a curved rod which serves as screen. Concealed behind it (right) a fifth woman who, unlike the others, wears youthful and quasi-fashionable dress, with curls, frills, and flowers, listens in dismay. Behind her is the open door and the head of a staircase. Over the door is a Cupid, blindfolded and asleep, his bow unstrung. Books, together with the 'Morning Post', lie on the floor: 'The History of a Totoishell Male Cat in 3 Vols', illustrated with a print of a cat; 'The Golden Dream'; 'Sermons against [the] Sin of Lying'; 'Moor's Almanack'. Cf. British Museum online catalogue.