Fox hangs by neck from a rope attached to the 'east india air balloon'; a globe on which is depicted the east india house in leadenhall street. On the ground beneath are two larger figures, george iii (left) and north (right). The king is dressed as a woman in pseudo-classical draperies, wearing a laurel wreath and the ribbon and star of the garter. He holds in his right hand a pair of scales, equally balanced, on the left scale half a royal crown, on the right the word "america". He stands on a solid stone dike or mound, with a broad base, under one foot is a paper inscribed "coalition", under the other is the "east india bill". The mound is inscribed "auspicium melioris ævi". The king looks towards fox, raising a narrow bandage which has been tied over his eyes; from his mouth he directs a blast which strikes and bends the rope by which fox is suspended. Fox holds in his hand a paper inscribed "[bill of] pains and penalties"; a large fox's brush hangs from his person, inscribed "the man of the people". Behind his head is a horizontal scroll inscribed, "harm watch - harm catch". North, with an expression of acute distress, kneels towards the king, his hands together in an attitude of prayer, saying "sire - let me be in the closet, even the water closet, rather than out of office". He kneels in a mountainous landscape evidently representing the wilderness of opposition, in front of him is a "letter of dismission", cf. The king's letter to him on 18 dec. 'corr. Of george iii', vi. 476. [". . I choose this method as audiences on such occasions must be unpleasant. " "m. 43 past 10 pm"] beneath him is etched, "quid feci?" above the balloon clouds are indicated. 30 december 1783
etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1783. Dimensions: Height: 350 mm; Width: 249 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Charles James Fox. Collection: British Museum. The East India Hot Air Balloon (BM J,2.122)
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