Five men stand round six chamber-pots, arranged in two piles of three, each inscribed 'Poll Book 1784' and supported on a rectangular block or table on which the title is engraved. Each man holds his nose. One (left) in profile to the right, who holds a spoon, is vomiting; he says: "I already am sick Of this poisonous trick The busines so thick T'would weary old Nick With spoon or stick Right from wrong to pick." His vis-à-vis (right), who stirs the contents of a pot with a spoon, says: "The cause I may gain, Though with labour and pain I can hardly refrain From puking amain Thro such fillth for to tag Is wares [sic] than euphorbium bag" (an allusion to the bag thrown at Fox in Westminster Hall, see BMSat 6426, &c). The other three stand together behind the table; the central one says, "A hogo here is. Worse than Cats pis Than Devils Spew. Or Asafoetida." Two demons hold out a net which stretches behind the scrutineers. One (left) says: "Ay Brother and by my tail, The Sheriffs shall admit no bail." The other (right) says: "Spread the net and you shall see Many a false oath will come to me."
Alternative Title:
Examination of the filth
Description:
Title etched in image., Attributed to printmaker only identified as 'Phillips' in the British Museum catalogue., and Temporary local subject terms: Plinths -- Nets -- Demons -- Scrutiny: Westminster election, 1784, begun on April 23, 1784 -- Allusion to the euphorbium bag thrown at Fox in Westminster Hall on February 14, 1784 -- Poll books as chamber pots -- Cutlery: Spoons.
Publisher:
Publish'd by S. Fores, No. 3, Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Wilkes, John, 1725-1797, and Great Britain. Parliament
