Print published as a frontispiece plate in Town talk, v. 4, 1813.
Attributed to Williams by George.
Print shows a battle between Lord Ellenborough (Edward Law), dressed as Don Quixote, and Truth. With a tilting-lance he shivers the mirror she holds up. He has a large oval shield inscribed 'Law' on which is a Medusa head, pierced through the eye and mouth by the arrows of bowmen who support Truth. Round the edge of the shield are the words: 'Legal Definition--Crim Con is a Venial Misfortune.' He wears a long floating judge's wig over the barber's bowl (Mambrino's helmet), and the armour on his thighs does not cover his bulky breeches. He lunges forward, saying: "Avaunt, Jade! I'll teach thee how to thrust thy hatefull mirror into good company. Go, Don Quixote thee to get a new one, more accommodating to the taste of the Times." Truth, wearing a girdle (of Chastity), with an irradiated sun on her breast, and a piece of drapery swirling round her, holds up a large tattered flag inscribed 'Truth and Morality'. She says: "The curse of Cain is come on me, my hand is against every one, and every one's hand against me." Behind her are five men wearing classical tunics who have just launched their arrows at Ellenborough; two lie bent and broken on the ground, one transfixes his wig, the others have not pierced the shield in which they stick. They wear belts, three of which are visible and are inscribed respectively 'Reproof' (twice) and 'Shame'. They stand before a rocky mountain (left) inscribed 'The Dwelling of Truth Clariore Tenebris'. This is surmounted by a tiny temple, a dome supported on pillars, and inscribed 'In Veritate Victoria'. Ellenborough also has five supporters, one being Sancho Panza on his ass, with a long judge's wig over his hat. Behind him stands 'Intemperance', naked except for vine-branches and belt, who holds up a brimming goblet and puts a hand on the 'Slang Dictionary' which Sancho holds, saying, "You must leave off your Slang now you have got a post, such Gross language will not become you." Sancho is evidently Sir Nash Grose, Judge of the King's Bench under Ellenborough the Chief Justice. He flings away a book, 'Practices of the Court', and answers: "Aye Aye, leave Sancho Panza alone for that--as the proverb is the greater the sinner the greater the Saint." The other three are 'Revenge', holding a dagger, 'Voluptuos[ness]' with bare breast, roses in her hair and in her hand, and holding a small winged globe, and 'Envy' gnawing at a heart. Behind these (right) is Westminster Hall.