Blowing up the Pic Nic's, or, Harlequin Quixotte attacking the puppets : vide Tottenham Street pantomine / Js. Gillray, invt. & fect.

Print shows Sheridan leading the forces of the professionals against the amateurs of the Pic-Nic Society, who are performing on a small, elegant stage, rising (without orchestra) from the boards in the foreground where these enemies advance. He is dressed as Harlequin; an empty purse hangs from his belt; in his left hand is a hat with a tricolour cockade (emblem of Jacobinism). In his right hand he flourishes a large pen whose feather makes wide swirling curves, terminating in firework-stars, and inscribed with the names of newspapers: 'Courier', 'Morning Post', 'Morning Herald', 'Morning Chronicle'. He is masked, to indicate that he has been writing anonymous squibs against the Pic-Nics. The actors follow in characteristic attitudes. Kemble (as Hamlet) wearing a ribbon, ranting in tragedy, directly behind Sheridan. On the left is Mrs. Billington and Mrs. Siddons (? as Lady Macbeth) clutching a dagger. Behind is the head of Lewis, with a comedian's smile, wearing a cocked hat. Crowds of actors pressing on from behind (left) and in deep shadow, are indicated by arms holding up banners; the chief one with the head of 'Shakespeare', badly torn. Others are 'Otway Rowe'; 'Kotzbue', and 'Schiller', 'Jonson', 'Congreve', and 'Addison'. In the foreground, through splintering boards, the ghost of Garrick rises, a mask in his hand. A posted playbill announces the performance of Fielding's farce, Tom Thumb, by members of the Pic-Nic Society. The amateur actors, dressed in character, are feasting on the stage and in alarm at the attack, the table is upset and dishes cascade to the ground. Dollalolla, Lady Buckinghamshire, her breasts bare, throws up her fat arms and one gouty leg; she wears a spiky crown or tiara, behind her is the sharp profile of Lady Salisbury (Huncamunca). The tall Lord Cholmondeley (not Lord Buckinghamshire) as King Pic Nic stands at left. Next him is a man dressed as a military officer, Colonel Greville. Little Lord Mount Edgcumbe, as Tom Thumb (or Alexander the Great), sits in profile to the left. on a three-legged stool, arms and legs extended, holding knife and fork. He wears armour and a feathered helmet. On the festooned curtain (in place of 'Veluti in Speculum') is 'Sic Itur ad Astra'. The front of the proscenium below the stage is decorated with swags of grapes and roses hung with coronets and centred by a comic mask with daggers thrust through the eyes. Below is a frieze of dressed-up dancing dogs.