Concerto coalitionale [graphic]

"Between Fox and Surrey, Powys, the second violin, is seated on the ground, looking with an agonized expression (cf. British Museum Satires No. 6413) towards Fox, the first violin. From Fox's pocket hangs a paper: 'Irish Propositions set to music for the White Boys'. Burke is farther to the left, blowing his trumpet with a deeper scowl. Lord Derby has been displaced from his central position for Lord Sandwich, seated in an arm-chair, holding a roll inscribed 'Catches & Glees' with which he beats time, turning to the right where Stormont blows the French horn as before. Farther to the right Lord Carlisle, in profile to the left, plays the clarinet (or hautboys). Derby, standing between Burke and Sandwich, plays the pipe and tabor. Eden plays the Irish harp as before and in the same position, but at his feet is a squalling cat, watched contemptuously by a large dog whose collar is inscribed 'watch'. Another dog howls with its fore-paws on the open music-book inscribed 'Ballanamonioro'. On the extreme left, in 'profil perdu' to the left, Portland is seated at the harpsichord; his music is also '[B]allanamonioro'. In the foreground (left) is a fox, its collar inscribed 'Fox', standing on a kettledrum, its cloth decorated with the Cavendish arms and motto, 'Cavendo tutus', and snarling at an overturned side-drum decorated with the royal arms; this indicates Fox's attitude to the Crown and the support given to him by the Duchess of Devonshire. Other books of music, a cittern, &c, lie in the foreground. On a chimney-piece, behind Portland, is a bust, laurel-wreathed with a blank face, inscribed 'oντiς'; against it lean a lyre and a smiling mask. Two manuscripts hang down from the chimney-piece: 'Critique on the Rolliad' and 'Probationary Odes for the Laureateship'. These emblems signify the anonymity of the two famous political satires which went into several editions in 1785 after appearing in the 'Morning Herald'. On the back wall, above the heads of the performers, are (left to right) marrow-bones and cleavers, reminiscent of the bands of butchers who had supported Fox in the Westminster Election. Next is a framed picture: Fox beating a tambourine, North playing a clarinet to which dance performing dogs and a hare. In the centre is an oval bust portrait of the Prince of Wales, the frame inscribed 'Auspicium melioris Ævi' (see British Museum Satires No. 6771). The third depicts Fox leading a performing bear, while a man, resembling a bearded Jew, plays a hurdy-gurdy. On the extreme right a legal wig is hung above a set of bagpipes; it is inscribed 'New Wig' [Whig] with the letters 'C.P'; on the bag are the letters 'PC', on one of the pipes '1745'. They represent Loughborough, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and his self-seeking changes of party."--British Museum online catalogue