Malagrida & conspirators, consulting the ghost of Oliver Cromwell., James Gillray, 1782

The ghost of cromwell (right) addresses fox, shelburne, and richmond. He is in armour, his right foot crushing a crown, his left foot on a broken sceptre. In his right hand is a sword whose point rests on the ground; a long cloak is slung across his shoulders and falls to the ground behind him. He turns his head in profile to the left, stretching out his right arm and saying, "to obtain your end your measures are right, you arm the people - like me, you trample on prerogative - republicans favourite plan - but all in vain - the spirit of the constitution never dies". Fox stands disconsolately on the extreme left, holding his hat in both hands, his back to cromwell; shelburne's hand is in his right arm. Shelburne, holding his left hand to his chin, looks meditatively towards cromwell. Richmond stands on shelburne's left, his fists are clenched, and he looks at cromwell over his left shoulder. He and fox appear to be walking away from cromwell, while shelburne stands meditatively. June 1782 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1782. Dimensions: Height: 239 mm; Width: 331 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Oliver Cromwell. Collection: British Museum. Malagrida & conspirators, consulting the ghost of Oliver Cromwell. (BM 1851,0901.84)