The siphons, or, Tale of a tub [graphic].

"The Treasury tub" on a stand in the middle of the image, is fitted with a siphon signed "Premier," from which other pipes extend toward Charles Fox, with a fox's head, on the left, and Lord North on the right. Fox, with a sealed cask by his side and holding a jug, complains that the tub appears to be empty from frequent use by the two of them and their friends. North, pouring from a jug into the cask by his side, expresses his contentment with its fullness. The "National tub" under the stand remains empty

"Fox and North, as two cellarmen, are filling casks from "The Treasury Tub" which lies on a wooden stand in the centre of the design. A siphon inscribed "Premier" is inserted in the top of the cask, from which branch a number of curving pipes, or cocks; through these the cellarmen divert its contents to receptacles for their own use. The "National Tub" which stands under the tap of The "Treasury Tub" (or cask) is empty. Fox sits on the left in profile to the right, with a fox's head, curled wig, and long bushy queue, holding a jug on his knee and leaning forward; he says, "The cask sounds empty & well it might be my Lord for we & our Friends have long been drawing from it". The cocks which extend towards him from the siphon are inscribed, "C Fox's Cock, Cock Royal", and "This Cock for Private Services". A cask at his side, in allusion to his gambling habits, is inscribed, "For C. Fox to be left at the Rattle Box Hazard Row till called for". North (right), very stout, in profile to the left, leans backwards pouring liquor from a jug through a funnel into the mouth of his cask, which is inscribed, "For Mr Deputy Secretary to be left at the Vicar of Bray'[s] Head - Bushy Park", indicating that he is a turn-coat and a mere deputy to Fox. The pipes which extend towards him from the siphon are described "Lord No . . .h's Cock; Election Bribe & Pension Cock" and "Admiralty". His lips are pouted towards his own cock and he is saying (in the metre of the Vicar of Bray): "A Plenum in my Cask I shew, with Plus & Plus behind Sir; and now that Cask runs minus low A Vacuum some will find Sir.""--British Museum catalogue