"Fox, dressed as a Tudor monarch, starts from a low couch on which he has been lying, his eyes staring in horror. In his right hand he grasps a sword inscribed 'Injustice'. Round his neck, on a ribbon inscribed 'Order of Blacklegs', is a medallion bearing a dice-box and dice. At his feet is a helmet (right) with a closed visor inscribed 'Helmet of Unrighteousness', and various documents inscribed respectively 'Petn Kirkwa[ll]' ; 'Westminster Election'; 'Private list 2500 bad votes on my side of the Question'; 'Ways and means P-- W-- [Prince of Wales] Newmar[ket] Brooks's--Dutchess--North--D-- de Chart[res] &c. &c. &c. &c'; 'India Bill For the better security Of power to me and my Friends'. Fox wears a ruff, slashed doublet and trunk-hose, an ermine-bordered cloak, and slashed shoes. A curtain hangs on each side of the couch; it partly conceals (left) a framed portrait-head of the Duchess of Devonshire in profile to the right, wearing at her breast a 'Fox' favour. Above the design is etched: 'If we be conquerd, Let men conquer us, And not these Bastard Britons, whom my Father Has in their own Land, Cheaten, spurn d and trod 'on And left them on record an Heir of Shame. Are these men fit to be the Heirs of England?'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Charles III, King of all the Orkneys and would be monarch of the East and Effects of a bad conscience
Description:
Title etched below image., Temporary local subject terms: Emotions -- Male costume: Tudor dress -- Allusion to gambling -- Tassels -- Curtains -- Allusion to William Shakespeare, Richard III, v. 3., Partial watermark bottom center of sheet: fleur-de-lis., and Mounted to 33 x 40 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. June 16th, 1784, as the act directs, by S. Fores, 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
England) and London.
Subject (Name):
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616., Cavendish, Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, 1757-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Great Britain. Parliament, and East India Company.
Subject (Topic):
Elections, 1784, Fear, Draperies, Picture frames, and Political elections