Two men in back view walk arm-in-arm, one (left) is short and fat, the other tall and thin. The former wears a short coat or spencer over his tail-coat, with wrinkled top-boots and a round hat, and carries a riding-switch. His hair is in a short queue with projecting side-pieces. The other wears a cylindrical hat with brim curled up at the sides, a coat reaching almost to his ankles with five capes forming a point in the centre of the back, with shoes tied with strings. He carries a bludgeon. The shoulders of both men are frosted with powder, see bmsat 8190. There is a landscape background. The spencer was a short double-breasted overcoat without tails called after george john spencer, 2nd earl spencer (1758-1834), who is probably here caricatured. Gillray anticipates the earliest use of the word (1796) in the 'o. E. D. ' the name derives from earl spencer's bet in 1792 that he would invent a coat which should become the fashion. 'social england', ed. Traill, 1904, v. 676. This garment was associated by byron in 'english bards and scotch reviewers' with sir lumley skeffington (1771-1850):
'and sure great skeffington must claim our praise,
for skirtless coats and skeletons of plays. ' 17 may 1792
hand-coloured etching and aquatint. Date: 1792. Dimensions: Height: 223 mm; Width: 224 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer. Collection: British Museum. A spencer & a thread-paper. (BM J,5.151)
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