A satire on the scheme of the country gentlemen, meeting at the st. Alban's tavern, for a 'union' between pitt and fox. The scene is outside a public house inscribed 'st albans' (left); the sign projecting from the corner of the building is half the face of fox, as in 'the mask', bmsat 6234; the other half (in place of that of north) is a royal crown. Members of the supposed united ministry dance hand in hand round a may-pole, on the top of which is the head of george iii, the eyes closed, the tongue protruding. Beneath the head the pole is wreathed with bunches of grapes and vine-leaves. The two figures in the front of the circle are fox (left) and thurlow (right). Fox has the body of a fox; he looks round over his right shoulder with a triumphant smile. Thurlow, in chancellor's wig and gown, in profile to the left, gazes at fox. On his right, also in profile to the left, is burke dressed as a jesuit (cf. Bmsat 6026). The central figure on the farther side of the circle is shelburne, who dances between portland (left) and burke (right). Richmond, in profile to the right, dances between portland and fox. Horns sprout from the heads of portland, fox, and burke, while those of the other three are surrounded by haloes. North, dressed as a nurse, stands (left) watching the dancers. He holds pitt, a little mannikin. His garter ribbon is inscribed 'nurse nor[th]'; he says, "come, buss-e, buss-e, billy my dear, and i'll teach you how to take care of yourself --- --- ---". North has horns, pitt a halo. Behind north (left) is the door of the inn, over which is inscribed 'messrs powass and mash 'em dealers in british spirits'. In front of the door stands marsham holding a foaming tankard, inscribed 'pf' (monogram), and a paper, 'resolved, that union may be effected without principle'. In an armchair outside the door sits powys, who with marsham, m. P. For kent, directed the proceedings at the st. Alban's tavern (though thomas grosvenor was the nominal chairman). On the ground between them is a paper inscribed 'respite. 48 hours,. Cromwell'. On the extreme right, outside the circle of dancers, is the prince of wales, beating a drum and blowing a pipe, while he dances to his own tune. His hat is ornamented with three enormous ostrich feathers and the words 'ick dien'. He, powys, and marsham have satyrs' ears, suggesting that they are less diabolical than the foxites, who have horns. Beneath the title is
etched:
'round about the maypole see how we trot, hotpot, hot, brown ale we have got-------------------------midas. ' 11 march 1784
etching. Date: 1784. Dimensions: Height: 249 mm; Width: 341 mm (trimmed). Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. The Countryman's Dream of Coalescing Virtue and Vice (BM 1868,0808.5187)
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