Banco to the knave

Members of the old and new Ministry seated and standing round a large card-table. Coins, cards and bank-notes lie on the table; two rectangular wells sunk in the centre are full of coins. In the centre of the farther side of the table sits Lord North throwing his cards down on the table; he looks down dejectedly, saying Its all over. On the right sits Fox, with a fox's head, a pile of coins and bank-notes in front of him, on which lies a court-card with its corners turned up. He is saying "Gentlemen the Bank is mine, & I will open every Night at the same hour". Streamers issue from the mouths of the late Opposition and join a scroll which floats over their heads, inscribed "HUZZA, HUZZA HUZZA". The defeated Ministry is represented by four figures. Facing Lord North, in back view, is a player whose chair is inscribed "John Shuffler Esq." He is saying "Alas! what a Deal." This is Thurlow, the Lord Chancellor, who retained his office under the new Ministry. At the extreme right of the table is a dejected player saying, "I want a new Master"; his chair is inscibed, "Sir Grey Parolle", that is Sir Grey Cooper, one of the Secretaries of the Treasury who commonly sat on North's left hand and supplied him with facts for points arising in debate, giving him "the parole". These two are without cards or coins; croupier's rakes lie on the table in front of them. On the extreme left, at the opposite point of the table, sits a man holding a croupier's rake and saying, dejectedly, "Atkinson cut the cards". He is perhaps Robinson, the other Secretary of the Treasury. Other players (twenty-two) are all partisans of the new ministry and all, except Fox, are saying "Huzza". They are grouped chiefly on the farther side of the table, some looking over the shoulders of those who are seated. On Fox's right sits a minister with a ribbon and star who appears to be Rockingham, the new prime minister; his guineas are very few compared with those of Fox. Standing behind Grey Cooper is the Duke of Richmond. Standing next him (left) is Dunning, in a barrister's wig and gown. Two men standing together on the left can be identified with some certainty from their resemblance to portraits as Barré and Lord John Cavendish. Sitting behind Sandwich and on his left is Wilkes, leaning eagerly forward. A man standing behind Lord North, looking downwards with a broad smile, is perhaps intended for Burke. A complacent player on North's right resembles the Earl of Surrey. The figure most resembling portraits of Shelburne stands immediately in front of Cavendish and Barré, leaning forward with both hands resting on the table. Cf. British Museum online catalog.