Sheridan and fox walk (left to right) one behind the other, bending under the weight of huge bundles of petitions which they carry on their heads. Both wear bonnets-rouges; fox is dressed in a tattered shirt and breeches. Smaller petitions project from their pockets. Sheridan's petitions are: 'house of correction', 'petition in favor of sedition', 'for sedition', 'girls petition', 'boys petition', 'washerwomens pn', 'pickpocket from newgate', 'drunkards', 'marshalsea', 'burow clink' [the clink prison in the borough of southwark], 'bridwell'. He says: "these will serve for a few hours jaw, & if we can but procrastinate the bill a few days we may be able to effect something in that time. "
fox's petitions: 'st lukes from thelwal with an essay on deism' [cf. Bmsat 9286], 'gamblers peti[ti]on dustmens', 'an adress from that oppresed body of men on board the hulks [convicts]', 'bankrupts p [above banker's, scored through]', 'nightmen', 'scavengers', 'card & dice makers', 'an adress', 'fish women'. 26 november 1795
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1795. Dimensions: Height: 270 mm; Width: 322 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Charles James Fox. Collection: British Museum. Petition mongers in full cry to St Stephens!! Beware of wolves in sheeps cloathing (BM 1868,0808.6482)
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