A necessary war, or Quixotism revived or the knight of the little house, Isaac Cruikshank, 1792

An old lady is seated in a 'necessary house', a small shed among shrubs which is being attacked by a stout lady (right) who raises an axe in both hands, saying, "open the door" or sir g:------ shall go to the king and make the necessary complaints you nasty ill natured lady dung. " the other draws aside a curtain which covers the glass panes of the upper part of the door, and answers: "no, no my young lady you may ease yourself how you can. " on the left 'sir g. ', wearing the ribbon and star of the bath, stands beside a cannon which he fires at the door, holding a pen to the touch-hole. He says, "by g--d madam if you dont let my wife in, i'll let fly at you & blow you & your little house to st james's. " the cannon, which is inscribed 'gr', has blown out one plank of the door. 12 march 1792 etching. Date: 1792. Dimensions: Height: 250 mm; Width: 351 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Elizabeth Cleeve. Collection: British Museum. A necessary war, or Quixotism revived or the knight of the little house (BM 1851,0901.588)