Doctor Sangrado curing John Bull of repletion with the kind offices of young Clysterpipe & little Boney / [graphic]

"Addington (right) bleeds John Bull, who sits on a commode, exhausted and faint, supported by Hawkesbury. Addington, very erect, wears his gown, and says: "Courage John Bull - Courage!!!" Hawkesbury, drooping and melancholy, repeats "Courage Johnny." John's arm is tightly bound above the incision by a tricolour bandage, a tricolour ribbon is tied round his tousled head. A diminutive Napoleon (right) with a martial stride and drawn sabre holds out his cocked hat to catch the blood that spurts from John's arm; this is inscribed: 'West Indies', 'Cape of Good Hope', 'Malta' [in large letters, see BMSat 9997, &c], 'Ceylon'. A little boy, standing behind Addington and clutching his gown, holds out his hat, inscribed 'Clerk [of the] Pells', to catch a stream of blood inscribed '£3,000 Pr Annum'; he echoes 'Courage'. On the left stand Fox and Sheridan proffering bowls of 'Warm Water'; both say "Courage". Fox has swollen legs and holds a tea-kettle, his expression is that of calculating reserve; Sheridan bends forward with eager greed. John is a countryman wearing wrinkled gaiters. His commode is inscribed 'Reservoir for the Clyster-pipe Family' [the Addingtons]. Beside him lie his (damaged) hat and stick, with a torn paper: 'Rule Britannia an old Song'."--British Museum online catalogue