Guy-Vaux discovered in his attempt to destroy the King & the House of Lords his companions attempting to escape. [graphic]

"Fox as Guy Vaux kneels on one knee beside a pile of three barrels which he is about to fire with a lighted paper inscribed 'Rights of Man', holding up a dark lantern in his left hand. Burke, dressed as a watchman, rushes towards him and seizes Fox's left wrist, turning the rays of the lantern on his face, while he springs the rattle in his outstretched right hand. His long staff rests on his shoulder and he wears a long coat with a triple collar, badged on the left sleeve with a crown. He says, ""Hold Miscreant - I arrest thee in the name of the British Constitution, which thou art undermining - I arrest thee in the name of human nature, which thou hast most cruelly outraged; - I arrest thee in the name of that Monarch whom thou dost wish to deprive of dignity, & of that people whom thou hast most basely deluded! - Nay, no fawning: - thy Tears & thy hypocrisy make no impression on the mind of truth & Loyalty: - therefore, Enemy of all good! yeild to that punishmt which has long waited those "crimes which are left as yet unwhipt of Justice"". Fox, who wears a slouch hat and a long cloak buttoned over his mouth, says, "O Lord! O Lord! that ever my aim should be discover'd when I had taken such pains to disguise myself - for Heavens sake, Watchman, what have I done that I should be apprehended? - what have I done only answer me that! - dare you accuse me only for what you think I intended to do ? - have I ever assassinated the King, or blown up the Lords ? - as to this Gunpowder here, I only intended to set fire to it merely to clear the Nation of Buggs: - for goodness sake do let me go: - or if I must suffer do let it be without holding up my own dark Lanthorn in my Face, for my Eyes are so weak with crying to think I should be charged with such Villainy, that I cannot bear the Light." Large tears fall from his eyes. The barrels are inscribed 'Gunpowder', one 'for the King', another 'for the House of Lords'. Behind, Sheridan escapes up a flight of steps, he follows another conspirator whose leg is visible on the extreme right. He says, I must be off while I can; as to my Friend there, why, if he does go to pot there's the more room for me! - I wish I could squeeze out a Tear or two as well as he, it might impose on the Mob, if they should stop me: - but I've come that humbug so often before, that my Eyes - Da-n my Eyes! there's not one drop left in them." ..."--British Museum online catalogue