An imaginary scene during the gordon riots. On the right a partly-destroyed building is in flames. In the foreground (centre) a man in the gown and bands of a minister, evidently intended for john wesley, holds out his arms as if preaching. Two men wearing "no popery" cockades are drinking, apparently from the chalices of a plundered chapel. On the right a working man holds up a large paper inscribed, "june 7 the protestant association. The rt honble lord george gordon prest in the cha[ir] res. . ". A woman holding a baby sits on the ground. Behind, a man holds a torch to the burning building. On the left a man kneeling, fires point-blank with a pistol at a dog which has been tied to a post and sits on its hind-legs with a cross in its fore-paws. A large open book, its pages torn, is on the ground. Behind, men are carrying off plunder, one has a dish or tray, another a candle-stick. On the wall behind them is a placard inscribed "now publishing and to be had at mr thomsons a new pampt entitled england in blood". Beneath the design is engraved:
"religious strife is rais'd to life,
by canting whining john;
no popery he loud doth cry,
to the deluded throng. " c. June 1780
etching. Date: 1780. Dimensions: Height: 203 mm; Width: 321 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Lord George Gordon. Collection: British Museum.
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