A ragged, dwarfish man, a pair of bellows under his arm, his apron full of guineas, is led to the poll by the duchess of devonshire (right) and is pushed forward by a florid over-dressed woman (left) whose breast is exposed. Jenkins has a large head with a hairy chin and a feminine figure; the duchess puts a hand under his chin and turns to look at the crowd on the hustings, who wildly cheer his approach, except for two seated poll-clerks who appear surprised. After the title is etched: 'having declared his intention not to remain neuter in the westminster contest, ts canvassed by the duchess of d------e & coax'd by mother windsor, & absolutely polld for lord john, on monday july 28th, altho' he never had any habitation except a cow-house, a privy, a pig stye or a watch house'. Both women have elaborate head-dresses of feathers, &c, with a fillet inscribed 'townsend'. Mother windsor has a damaged nose and a patched face; from her pocket protrudes a paper inscribed 'list of mrs windsor'[s] nuns'. She is followed (left) by three of these 'nuns' (cf. Bmsat 5177, &c), who are pretty young women (cf. Bmsat 6547). On the hustings behind a wooden barricade townshend raises his hat and holds out his hand towards jenkins. Burke looks over his shoulder and sheridan (on the extreme right) stands beside nun in profile to the left, clasping his hands in satisfaction. The most prominent of those on the hustings is fox, behind the duchess, who waves his hat, raising both arms. Two poll-clerks, holding pens, sit in front of townshend and fox. 29 july 1788
etching. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 250 mm; Width: 352 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. Herry Jenkins, the masculine & feminine bellows mender. (BM 1868,0808.5768)
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