The female coterie at the election of one of the male members of their society [graphic]

"A number of ladies (eleven in all) sit at a table at the head of which is their president or chairman. They are balloting for the admission of a member, according to the 'Authentic Rules of the Female Coterie' printed in the 'Gentleman's Magazine', 1770, p. 414, by which ladies balloted for men and men for ladies. The president sits in a raised chair, a hammer in her right hand; she says: "Mr Driver the New Member shall be admitted & duly return'd by me the proper Officer if upon examination he comes up to the Standard". Remarks from other ladies (left to right) are: "I hold up my hand for Mr Driver, if it had not been for him, several Noble Families would have been extinct that have now a numerous Issue"; "The ability of every Candidate ought to be strictly Examined"; "The Gentleman to be elected into this Society shall not be Husband to any of us"; "No our plan is to supply the deficiency of Husbands"; "I move for the Admission of Mr Driver as a Member. He has a promising Leg, an happy Assurance, & to crown the whole he is an Irishman"; "Lady H------n [Harrington] has her Reasons for not suffering Mr Driver to return to Ireland, but she must not Engross him all to herself". The lady on the President's right is writing in a large book. On the table are writing materials, books, one being 'Essay on Man', a bottle marked "Eau de Vie", a tray with coffee-pot, cups, &c."--British Museum online catalogue