The London Gazette [art original]

The interior of a coffee-house, the customers, with one exception, deeply interested and dismayed at the news in a 'Gazette Extraordinary'. On each side of the room is an oblong table flanked by wooden settees. Between the tables and in the center of the design three men stand, one of whom reads from a 'Gazette Extraordinary'. His two companions look at him with scowling attention; one, his hat under his arm, has both hands thrust deep into the pockets of his coat; the other holds his forehead, from which his wig has been pushed back. A dog gazes up at them. At the table on the left a man sits in full face gaping with dismay, his hands rest on the table grasping his knife and fork. Two men sit on opposite sides of the table on the right; one holds a glass in his left hand, while he looks up at the group with the newspaper. His vis-à-vis has turned sideways, his hands on his knees, with an expression of melancholy alarm. Behind him, one hand on the back of the settle, stands John Wilkes, conspicuous by his squint and his characteristic wig; he holds a glass of wine and frowns. At his side is a man leaning back asleep. -British Museum catalogue