Blue and buff., William Dent, 1788

A band of topers seated at a table hails the entrance of the prince of wales (left), who carries a dozen wine-bottles in a wicker tray, saying, "wine is the liquor of life - here my brave boys - fill every glass. His tray is inscribed patron. (?) of polite art". All wear coats and breeches without shirts, &c. Above an open door on the extreme left are the prince's feathers and motto 'ich dien'. The prince's guests are singing a catch: sheridan lifts a glass, saying, "it's wine"; burke, his hand on his breast, sings "that inspires us"; fox (larger than the others) sings "and fires us"; hanger, pouring a bottle at random, sings "with courage"; and lord john townshend on the extreme right, his arm on fox's shoulder, sings "love & joy". Above the heads of fox and townshend is an escutcheon on which are dice, a dice-box, cleaver, and marrow-bones; the supporters are two bludgeons. On the wall (left) is a picture: 'plan for extending the freedom of election'; three notice-boards on poles represent the notices on the hustings which indicated the places where the electors of the different westminster parishes were to vote. Under 'st ann's & duke's place' (the latter a liberty in the city inhabited by jews) the duchess of devonshire shaves a jew, while a bearded jew waits his turn; this is 'devonshire soap'. Under 'st james's & switzerland' fox, hat in hand, smilingly takes the hand of a foreigner; this is 'naturalisation'. Under 'st john's & the mint' (st. John's a poor westminster parish; the mint a disreputable district in southwark) two men (one probably sheridan) put a coat on an almost naked man; this is 'drury wardrobe'. 12 august 1788 etching. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 177 mm; Width: 275 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. Blue and buff. (BM 1868,0808.5780)