The principal merchants & traders assembled at the Merchant Seaman's Office to sign [the] address [graphic]

"An engraving, which is in some respects the sequel to "The Addressers", British Museum Satires No. 4273, and "The Battle of Cornhill", British Museum Satires No. 4274, showing a party of workmen and tradesmen assembled in a room of the Merchant Seamen's Office, which was over the Royal Exchange. They are grouped about a large table, on which lies a long scroll or address. The president is a butcher, with a naked knife hi his hand; a tray at his feet contains a shoulder of mutton; doubling his fist, he cries: -- "I shall stick my Knife in Magna Charta, & cut up the Carcase of the Sill of Rights." A lean, hungry -looking man, sits grinning behind the butcher; next to the sitter stands a porter who declares: -- "D--mn his swivel Eyes I wish he may sink under his load." This refers to the marked squint of John Wilkes, who was at this time in prison and strongly opposed to the Court; see "John Wilkes Elected Knight of the Shire", British Museum Satires No. 4189, and "The Scotch Victory. (A.)", British Museum Satires No. 4196. A Dutchman, probably Mr. Muilmann, see "The Addressers", British Museum Satires No. 4273, declares: -- " Ah ! de gross Scrip for Mynheer too"; this is in reply to a Jew who exclaims: -- " Oh for a large portion of Scrip.", i.e. probably subscription scrip to Government loans, which was very profitable to the lenders, and often alleged to be used as a bribe by the ministry; see "The Battle of Cornhill", British Museum Satires No. 4274, and "Frontispiece to the Middlesex Petition", British Museum Satires No. 4289. A barber, with a shaving dish and napkin under one of his arms, and holding a wig in one hand, stands before the scroll, signing his name to it; he says: -- "I've got an order for a new Wig, only for signing my Name." A gaunt Scotch pedlar, with a bale at his back, and carrying a wand, declares: -- "Saumy mun sign too, gin it be to the Deel, for my gued laird's sake", i.e. for the sake of the Earl of Bute, the reputed patron of Scotchmen, see "We are all a comeing", British Museum Satires No. 3823. A baker, with a basket of bread on his shoulders, approaches the table and says: -- "Brother Merchants follow my example & you'll never want Bread." A meagre chimney-sweep, clad in sooty garments, advances to the table and remarks: -- "Who knows but I may be appointed to a Chimney at Court.""--British Museum catalogue