Thurlow, seated (left), a birch-rod in his right hand, in the other an open book inscribed 'a new guide to india', looks towards pitt, who stands before him dressed as a young girl though wearing a bag-wig. Pitt stands in profile to the left; to his waist is tied a key marked 't'. (for treasury) which is decorated with bells and resembles a child's coral (cf. Bmsat 7325). Thurlow was again appointed chancellor (23 dec. 1783) on the dismissal of the coalition; he wears an enormous chancellor's wig. Against the wall which forms the background are objects to indicate the nature of the lessons taught in thurlow's schoolroom. A bookcase is inscribed 'newbery's works', indicating the extreme youth of pitt, newbery being the publisher of books for children. It is surmounted by a bust of fox, grinning; he is bearded and has satyr's ears; this is inscribed 'a true whig'. Beside it (right) hangs a circular bust portrait of george iii as a roman emperor. He wears a wreath of thistles. An arm, inscribed 'secret influence', extends from a tartan plaid on the extreme left of the design, the hand holding a thistle to the nose of the king, indicating the supposed influence of bute or of other scots. The frame of the portrait is decorated with thistles. Over it is inscribed 'a great whig'. On the other side of the bust of fox is a wall-map in which the face of shelburne forms the british isles. His hair is inscribed 'scotland', below this and across his forehead is an 'ecliptic line'; below are 'england', 'channel', 'german ocean' (left), and 'wales, dublin' (right). A fragment has been torn off, containing 'am[erica]' and part of the 'west in[dies]'. The map is inscribed 'british geography made easy to youth by wycombe 1783' (cf. Bmsat 6374), and above it is written 'a false whig'. 19 january 1784
etching. Date: 1784. Dimensions: Height: 240 mm; Width: 217 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow. Collection: British Museum. Whiggism, or Master Billy learning his Task (BM J,2.105)
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