Nelson's victory, or, Good-news operating upon loyal-feelings [graphic]

"Members of the Opposition, arranged in two horizontal rows, receive the news of Aboukir. [1] In the upper left corner Burdett sits, directed to the right, intently reading the 'Extraordinary Gazette' on 'Nelson's Victory'; his shock of hair covers his eyes, and he says, left hand raised in alarm: "sure I cannot see clear?" On the wall (left) is a print, a profile head of 'Buonaparte'. [2] Jekyll stands beside Lansdowne, who reclines in an arm-chair in dressing-gown and bonnet-rouge, a gouty leg resting on a cushion. He holds out a paper headed 'Captured IX French Ships of War'; under his arm is a paper: '2 Burnt'; he holds up two fingers. Lansdowne puts his hands over his ears, saying, "I can't hear! I can't hear." (For Jekyll and Lansdowne cf. BMSat 9179, &c.) [3] Bedford, sitting on a large treasure-chest, sourly tears in half a paper: 'complete Destruction of Buonaparte's Fleet - ', saying, "It's all a damn'd Lye". Behind his chest are padlocked sacks inscribed '£', indicating his wealth; on the wall hang jockey-cap, boots, and riding-whip. [4] Erskine lies back in his chair holding a smelling-bottle to his nose, from his dangling right hand have dropped papers: 'Capture of Buonaparte's Dispatches'. He says "I shall Faint, I.I.I." He sits by a table on which are writing-materials and 'Republican Briefs'. (For Erskine's fainting in court, and egotism, see BMSats 7956, 9246, &c.) [5] Norfolk sits in an arm-chair beside a table on which are signs of a debauch: overturned decanters and a candle guttering in its socket. Wine pours from his mouth and from a glass in his right hand. At his feet is a broken tobacco-pipe, in his left hand a paper: 'Nelson & the British Fleet'. He says "what a sickening Toast!" (cf. BMSat 9168, &c). [6 and 7] Tierney and Sheridan sit looking at each other across a table, Tierney (left) clutching his knee, on which lies a paper: 'End of the French Navy - Britannia Rules the Waves'. From his pocket issues a paper: 'End of the Irish Rebellion'. He says: "ah! our hopes are all lost". Sheridan, elbows on the table, his chin in his hands, says "I must lock up my Jaw!" Before him are papers: 'List of the Republican Ships Taken and Destroy[ed]'. [8] Fox, in the lower right corner, hangs by a noose, having just kicked a stool from under his feet; his crisped fingers have dropped a paper: 'Farewell to the Whig Club'. He says: "and I, - end with Éclat!" He wears a bonnet-rouge."--British Museum online catalogue