Modern patriots

"Two men preside over the collection of signatures on a large roll supported on a desk in an open-fronted booth (right), while a butcher holds a pen in the paw of his dog, which is on its hind legs at the desk. One of the two, wearing dark spectacles, asks: 'Is that Gentleman a Protestant, Sir?' The oafish butcher: 'Does he look like a Cartholic--eh?' The other man drags forward by the lapel of the coat a ragged bewildered and emaciated charity-schoolboy, holding a hoop. He points to the roll, saying, 'Now my little Lad you must sign against the Papists, who whip little Boy's & take away their Lolly-Pops!!' A ruffianly looking fellow with a bludgeon stands behind the boy. In the foreground (left) outside the booth a dustman and a sweep face each other aggressively. The sweep, coal-black, short, and knock-kneed, with brush, shovel, and bag, says: 'Vat do you vont? you ar'nt a riglar Protissant, blow ye! Vy I se'ed you going into that ere place at Moor-field's!!' The dustman, holding his hand-bell, and with the long flap of his hat projecting, stoops towards the sweep, saying, 'Vy Mister Smut--I'm as good a Protissan as you any day! did-n't I shy my Castor at the Prime-hear and sing out no poppery?'"--British Museum online catalogue