A worthy Alderman and his friends canvasing or strong recommendations for a membr of parliament, Isaac Cruikshank, 1795

A boxing encounter; the combatants, wearing waistcoats and gloves, stand facing each other with clenched fists. One (left) says:"i'll box the minister about if i get in & tip him seven the main". The other (right) says: "now mr alderman i vil show you vone jews blow". Each has a second; on the extreme left a backer sits on a cask inscribed 'combe's entire [scored through] small hopes'; he holds a paper inscribed 'aldn combes for ever' and says: "he'll make a better boxer than a parliament man". On the extreme right the bottle-holder of combe's opponent stands holding a bottle and a lemon. On the ground are books and papers: 'brothers prophecys' (see bmsat 8627, &c. ); 'pains rights of man' (see bmsat 7867, &c. ); 'the whole art of boxing made easy'; 'a petition for peace on giving up all the west india islands corsica [see bmsat 8516] fleet &c &c'; 'king lord and commons [erased and replaced by] a new system of governt on the french republican plan'. On the wall (left) is a map (represented by meaningless scrawls) of 'teritories conquerd by the republic of france & indivesible equality for ever'. On the right is a bust portrait of the king in profile to the right, torn at the neck. 3 march 1795. Etching. Date: 1795. Dimensions: Height: 227 mm; Width: 330 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Richard Brothers. Collection: British Museum. A worthy Alderman and his friends canvasing or strong recommendations for a membr of parliament (BM 1868,0808.6419)