A meeting of city politician's [graphic].

"Men seated round a table, drinking, smoking, and reading newspapers. On the right. an artisan, wearing a flat cap and apron, drinks from a tankard while he reads 'The Morning Post'. Next him a man in back view reads 'The Daily Adver[tiser]', a monkey sitting on his shoulder, pulls the string-like queue of his ill-made wig. Next (l.), an elderly man in an arm-chair, wearing spectacles and a cap, holds up his hand as if to demand attention; he reads 'The London Chronicle', on which is inscribed "It is reputed that nixt [sic] sessions of Parliament, there will be a tax laid upon horn'd Cattle"; his neighbours listen to the news with expressions of consternation. The farther side of the table is crowded; one man reads 'The Evening Post', another the 'London Gazette', on which is inscribed "Extract of a Letter from America". Beneath the design is engraved: "With staring Eye, & Open Ear, Each Cobling, Horned, City seer, Swallow's down Politics with Beer. Neglects his Family & Calling. To enter into Party Brawling. Gets Drunk & Swears - the Nation's falling."--British Museum online catalogue