Satire on corrupt elections, particularly that of 1727, set in a country town with several candidates bribing voters. On the left, a statue of justice in a niche beneath which a candidate, doffing his hat, offers a purse of money to a voter who replies, "twill scarce pay, make it twenty more", beside them a gentleman points to the statue saying "regard justice" to another carrying a bundle on his shoulder who replies, "we fell out, i lost money by her". In the centre, in front of a large crowd are two candidates, both waving their hats, slip coins into two of the many pockets of a voter's coat; one candidate says, "sell not your country" and the voter replies, "no bribery but pocketts are free". Further to the right another candidate, saying "accept this small acknowledgment", offers a purse to a gentleman who grovels on the ground for coins that have been thrown down by the prevailing candidate, from his position on a chair supported by poles on the shoulders of four men. On the right, a statue of folly in a niche empties bags of coins; before the statue is an altar on which a fire burns, a candidate kneels at its base imploring, "help me folly or my cause is lost"; to the left of the altar, is a butcher crying "see here, see here" and to the right, a classical philosopher, saying "let not thy right hand know what thy left does", puts his hand behind him to received a bribe from a young man. Beyond is a tavern outside the landlord, wearing horns, calls out "he kist my wife he has my vote"; outside the tavern hangs the sign of a bottle with a large globe attached. Three columns of verse beneath. 1727
etching. Date: 1727. Dimensions: Height: 237 mm; Width: 298 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum.
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