Assertaining the Value of the Convention, or, One short Weighty Word in its favor, William Dent, 1791

Brook watson stands holding up the beam of a large pair of scales; one scale (left) inscribed 'fishery' contains a pile of dolphin-like creatures representing whales; the other, inscribed 'expence', is full, of coins. He puts his wooden leg (inscribed 'pension') in the 'fishery' scale, making it outweigh 'expence', saying, "*feeling - as i feel, what are three millions put in the scale against as many whales as we can catch?" from his coat-pocket protrude fish inscribed 'feeling', smaller ones project from his waistcoat pockets. His head is turned in profile to the left, and he holds out his right hand to address four of the opposition who stand on the left: sheridan, looking at the whales, holds out his hands towards them, saying, "i feel a want of something". Fox scowls at the whales, saying, "i feel a want of weight". Burke looks up, saying, "i see too much feeling". Behind them is the profile of a man with a long jewish nose and bushy eyebrows, identified as m. A. Taylor. Behind the right scale and on the extreme right alderman curtis and pitt stand side by side, both in profile to the left. Curtis has a loaf under his arm and holds open a large sack; he says, "tho' a fisherman i can make a loaf - and hope to make a few fish". Pitt says, "i feel myself bold with the opinion of the first city in the world". January 1791 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1791. Dimensions: Height: 208 mm; Width: 275 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. Assertaining the Value of the Convention, or, One short Weighty Word in its favor (BM 1868,0808.5997)