An introduction Christmas Day after dinnner ; A Christmas box ; The Austrian amongst thorns ; An Attorney Ge-l grilling old grill ; John Bull and his Grey. [graphic]

"AN INTRODUCTION. (16533) Below the title: 'An Honourable member wish'd an address to his Majesty praying the appointment of a General Fast'. A bland M.P. bows amiably, his left hand under that of a distressed artisan, the right hand extended towards a general, smart, smiling, and bowing, but grotesquely emaciated. The latter points behind him to a skeleton (left), wearing a cocked hat and holding a cane to its jaw; it holds a large paper: 'The Best of Fish for the Rich'; and has a placard: 'A Form Of Prayer For The Poor'. The introducer: 'General Fast, Mr Hard-work, Mr Hardwork General Fast'. Fast: 'Spare your introduction my dear Sir, we are Old acquaintances'. Hardwork, who is in his shirt-sleeves, turns aside in deep dejection to say: 'Yes indeed! I wish it had been General Feast'. A little boy, starving and ragged, tugs at his father's sleeve."--British Museum online catalogue

"CHRISTMAS DAY AFTER DINNER (16857) A fat John Bull, with unbuttoned waistcoat, sits in an arm-chair by the fire, dessert and decanter at his elbow. With closed eyes he says: 'Excellent pudding--prime beef--glorious fat Goose (Snores.--)'."--British Museum online catalogue

"A CHRISTMAS BOX. (16534) Grey holds out a mitre and an episcopal wig to a surpliced parson (right), who registers surprise; he says: 'Here's something for you Brother'."--British Museum online catalogue

"THE AUSTRIAN AMONGST THORNS. (16535) Francis I, in crown and robes, sits upon huge spikes or thorns, and is menaced by others. He exclaims: 'Alack & Alas! who'd be an Emperor'. The thorns are 'News from London; News from Naples; News from Greece; News from Warsaw; Home affaires; News from Turin; News from Brussels; News from Paris'."--British Museum online catalogue

"AN ATTORNEY GE-L GRILLING OLD GRILL. (16536) Denman (left), in wig and gown, uses a three-pronged fork to hold Cobbett on a huge gridiron, under which is a fire of blazing 'Political Registers', indicated by a gridiron on the papers. Cobbett, angry and tortured, holds up a copy of his paper, kicking wildly."--British Museum online catalogue

"JOHN BULL AND HIS GREY, (16537) John, a farmer in top-boots, sits on a horse with Grey's profile inset in its head. The animal jibs at a fork in the road (right) beside which is a signpost: 'To Reform'. J. B.: 'I could never get a Horse up this road to the right, but I've some hopes, of this--dang it master Grey no shying'. (For misgivings (before 1 Mar.) as to Grey's intentions cf. British Museum Satires No. 16544.)"--British Museum online catalogue