Concerning Burdett's visit to the state prison in Coldbath Fields and his subsequent exposure of the squalid conditions and poor treatment of prisoners witnessed there.
Print shows Sir Francis Burdett, one hand on the knocker of the large iron-studded door, addressing a gaoler, who stands just inside, holding open one leaf of the door. He says, one finger raised: "Hush! - Harkee! - open the door! - I want only to see if my Brother Citizens have Candles & Fires, & good Beds, & clean Girls, for their accomodation, - that all!!! Hush! open the Door! quick!!" The gaoler answers: "Hay? - what? - let You in, hay? - no! no! - we're bad enough here, already! - let you in! no! - no! - that would be too bad; - You're enough to corrupt the whole College." From Burdett's pocket hangs a paper: 'Secret Correspondence with O'Conner Evans Quigley Despard'. In the background a hackney coach is driving under the high prison wall towards the gate. The profile of Courtenay (on the extreme left) looks from the window to say: "Drive me to the Bastille you dog". The driver answers: "To Cold Bath College, you mean I suppose! - to take up your Degrees Master." Above the massive gateway is inscribed: 'The House of Correction for the County of Middlesex.