Two to One, an attempt to outwit the young pawnbroker, William Dent, 1793

Pitt, in profile to the left, stands behind the counter of a pawnbroker's shop; he hands to an exultant jew a paper inscribed '4000'; a large sack stands on the counter between them. The jew says: "as mush above four tousand as you pleash, and dere vos de costs, precious stones in de rough, but no rubbish, by cot a mighty - is dere moses?" the second jew also stands in profile to the right, his hands raised in deprecatory affirmation; he answers: "no, i vos swear dat. " both are bearded and wear low wide-brimmed hats. A stout man advances from the left, carrying a pyramid of three tea-chests on his head; he says: "they wont know sloe leaves from bohea. " in the background under an arched doorway a fashionably dressed cloth-merchant carrying his rolls of stuff addresses a man in highland dress (left) with a roll of material under his arm: "do you think they will measure every yard of my cloth?" the scot answers: "yes, but my stuff will do for i have a bonny friend [dundas] to speak for me. " in the shop window are three balls, 'money lent', and various objects. Above pitt's head are shelves on which are a bellows, warming-pan, &c. C. May 1793 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1793. Dimensions: Height: 247 mm; Width: 350 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Collection: British Museum. Two to One, an attempt to outwit the young pawnbroker (BM 1868,0808.6295)