A satire on the installation of the knights of the bath, anticipating the actual installation on 19 may. George iii as a stable-boy or groom leads to their stalls asses with human heads wearing the feathered hats worn by the knights at an installation. Their saddle-cloths, decorated with a star, represent the mantle of the order. A row of stalls is occupied by asses whose hind quarters and the feathers of their hats only are visible. The king wears a hunting-cap and boots with huge spurs; in his left hand are a pitchfork and a sieve inscribed 'st george'. He holds a rope inscribed 'honor' attached to the neck of an ass which is walking through a deep horse pond in the left corner of the stable. Behind the ass's ears are large quill pens inscribed 'war office', showing that he is sir george yonge, one of the knights elect. Another ass follows him into the pond, probably sir alexander hood, the other new knight. A pair of asses (right) walk in procession, having passed the king; one has the profile of the man identified in bmsat 7330 as sir george yonge. On their hind legs are huge spurs like those worn by the king. On a low wall behind the horse-pond sits a demon holding up an oval standard bearing a star and the word 'bath'; on it is poised a small figure of fame holding up a star. On each side of the demon is a naked infant, one with a watchman's rattle, the other with a trumpet. The back walls of the stable, which represent the stalls of the knights in henry vii's chapel in westminster abbey, are decorated with emblems of their occupants. In each is also a standard; that of the first stall on the extreme left is inscribed 'plenipotarian donkey'. Behind the star of the bath are crossed documents inscribed 'treaty' and the motto 'humility'. These indicate sir james harris (k. B. 1779), who was appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the states general on 14 march 1788 and negotiated the treaty signed at the hague on 15 april 1788. The motto of the next stall is 'duplicity'; its standard is 'governarian donkey'. These probably indicate lord dorchester (sir guy carleton, k. B. 1776). The word flattery, with crossed cannons and the standard 'popularian donkey', probably indicate lord heathfield, k. B. 1783, possibly rodney, k. B. 1780. Crossed pens, the motto 'servility', and the standard 'scratchatarian donkey' indicate the occupant of the next stall. The last stall (right) has broadswords, the motto 'impudence', and the standard 'cudgelarian donkey'. In the foreground (right) a dog befouls papers inscribed 'sincerity', 'wisdom', 'modest merit', and 'independence'. Beneath the design is etched:
'like as pretty little boys
joyful jump for triffling toys. Great men will, for star and sash
thro' horse-pond, like asses, splash. ' 17 may 1788
etching. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 298 mm; Width: 452 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Sir Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester. Collection: British Museum. Installation (BM 1868,0808.5727)
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