A design in compartments. A satire on pitt's return from grocers' hall on the night of 28-29 feb-, see bmsat 6453. The inscriptions over each compartment form a running comment on the whole. [1. ] a three-quarter length portrait of pitt as 'will trim', standing in profile to the right
[2. ] a similar portrait of fox directed to the right, his right hand in his breeches pocket, his left thrust in his waistcoat. [3. ] fox (left) and pitt (right) standing one on each side of a large cake on a table, each with an arm raised menacingly. Behind them, faintly indicated, is the speaker (cornwall), in his chair, and a sea of heads, showing that this is a contest in the house of commons. 12 jan. 1784 (when parliament met) was expected to be 'charles fox's twelfth day, when he will chuse king and queen'. Gaussen, 'a modern pepys', ii. 241. [4. ] the king (left) seated in his closet at a table. He hands a letter, which he has just written, to a man holding a dark lantern, and covered with a long cloak. The devil directs the intrigue: he stands facing the king between temple on his right and pitt, standing shyly, hat in hand, whom he is introducing to the king. One of a number of satires in which temple is represented as a conspirator with a dark lantern, see bmsat 6417, &c. [5. ] a stout citizen standing on the sea-shore, where a number of men are carrying chests and bales from a ship at anchor. Beside him are packing-chests and sugar-loaves, representing the tea and sugar sold by grocers. He is 'fig the smuggling grocer', and is saying, "this fellow charles is no friend to smuggling, til be reveng'd on the dog". He is a member of the grocers' company, contemplating the entertainment of pitt, see bmsat 6442. It was actually pitt who checked smuggling, cf. Bmsat 6634. [6. ] a mob attacks the windows of a large building, pitt stands conspicuously in the foreground, apparently about to throw a stone. A stout citizen who shakes his stick at pitt, is having his pocket picked. Jeffery dunstan stands with his sack over his shoulder waving his hat and looking at pitt. See bmsat 6453. [7. ] a street scene, the sequel to the attack: pitt and one of his company are being thrashed by men with sticks. The inscriptions over the compartments of the design are:
'will trim \ and charles \ fight for the cake, and charles was like to get it. \ but the conjurer, the devil & will instigate nobody [the king] to write to the l------ds of the bed chamber to juggle charles out of the cake. \ fig the smuggling grocer determines to get drunk with will in the city, where they agree to \ kick up a riot, and break charles's windows. \ will & his drunken companions get soundly drubb'd for their pains. ' 24 march 1784
etching. Date: 1784. Dimensions: Height: 247 mm; Width: 349 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: George Nugent Temple Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham. Collection: British Museum. Eastward Ho! or the young statesman's ramble. (BM 1868,0808.5192)
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