Flight to Switzerland with his Woman and Faithful Black, William Dent, 1788

Fox, seated on the back of the devil, flies (left to right) across the channel; behind him sits mrs. Armstead clasping his shoulders; both smile with cunning satisfaction. Behind the couple floats a bushy fox's brush. From fox's coat-pocket protrude two dice-boxes containing dice and a label: 'subscription'. From the water (left) emerges the head of lord john townshend, saying, "my dear friend, don't leave me in the lurch, i can scarce keep chin above water, and if they bear down upon me i shall certainly sink". The water surrounding him is littered with torn scrolls inscribed 'perjury', 'bribery', 'subornation', 'corruption', 'expences', 'violence' (cf. Bmsats 7352, 7366, &c). A ship in full sail approaches, flying a pennant inscribed 'petition'. On the coast (right) are three adjacent scenes placed diagonally, left to right: [1] inscribed 'landed', is headed 'refreshing with right geneva [gin]'. Mrs. Armstead drinks from a bottle; the devil stands beside her with a glass, one hand on her shoulder. [2] the next scene is 'settling the election expences': fox stands at a gaming-table, throwing dice with three men of french appearance. [3] on the extreme right fox leads mrs. Armstead through a doorway with the inscription 'neat lodgings'; a bunch of grapes (a tavern sign) hangs over it, indicating a brothel. On the house, and above mrs. Armstead, is a placard: 'to be let and entered immediately'. This is called 'going with a convenient friend to a convenient house'. The two adjacent scenes are bracketed as 'ways and means'. (cf. Bmsat 7902. ) 15 august 1788 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 214 mm; Width: 387 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Elizabeth Bridget Fox. Collection: British Museum. Flight to Switzerland with his Woman and Faithful Black (BM 1868,0808.5783)