Title from item.
Printmaker from the British Museum online catalog.
Library's copy trimmed within plate mark.
A burlesque view of the interiors of the Houses of Parliament, the two Houses divided by a narrow partition bisecting the design into two unequal parts. In the smaller (left) peers in shirt-sleeves or stripped to the waist threaten with clenched fists three sleeping Ministerial leaders: Thurlow, a man resembling Lord Camden, and a small man wearing spectacles, probably Grenville; between the two last is the word 'Expediency'. Among the assailants only the Duke of Norfolk is recognizable. An elderly man is about to strike Thurlow with his large tie-wig. Behind is the House of Lords' tapestry: a naval battle inscribed 'Destruction of the Spanish Armada'. Above are the words: 'O the Brave Days of good Queen Bess'. On the right the Commons are in wild confusion. In the foreground (left) Pitt and Fox, stripped to the waist, are wrestling, Fox clasping Pitt round the body, Pitt's thin leg round the massive leg of Fox whose face he scratches, saying, "Oh that I could give this Upstart a Fall". Dundas and (?) Steele and Rose stand together facing Powys and (?) Grey. Brook Watson lies on the ground, his wooden leg broken, saying, "Done in one short Word". Arden scratches the face of his opponent. In the foreground (right) Sheridan grasps Lord Belgrave (indicated by a bell hanging from his waist inscribed 'Grave', its clapper inscribed 'Grecian'); he says, "Bell out Number one but I think I can manage an odd Figure or two". On the extreme right, very pugnacious, but with no antagonist, stands Burke, saying: "I am of no Party therefore ready to Fight any Party for any Sum not nice about the Terms". A pair of combatants behind him has not been identified. On the extreme left is the Speaker's chair; Addington stands with the mace raised in both hands, saying, "Order, Order, Order". Behind are two non-combatants on the back benches: Burgoyne sits (left), saying, "I say let in some Air, I am as cool as I was at Saratoga - and the seats of this side the House can never be made easy". The other stands, saying, "Officer obey the temperature Committee - let some Cool Air - the House is too Hot." Cf. The British Museum online catalog.