Six groups arranged in two rows, the words etched above the head of the speaker. [1] two tax-gatherers stand together (left), one pointing to a man walking in profile to the right, fashionably dressed except that he does not wear a sparrow-tail coat. One says, pointing, "stand aside neighbour - there's a puppy, i'm sure". The other answers: "dont be too rash - he has got never a tail!" [2] a tax-collector walks off to the left holding a dog under his arm and followed by its irate and elderly owner, who raises her crutched stick to smite, saying: "return my property you villain, or i'll knock you down". He says: "by virtue of my office, in cases of nonpayment, i have a right to retain this animal as private property. I fancy i can dispose of him for about fifteen shillings. " [3] a kneeling tax-collector, holding a bludgeon and an official paper, pulls out a terrified man from under the petticoats of a distressed lady, seated in a chair (right). He says: "i am sure madam you have got a puppy concealed somewhere - i saw him enter the premises - o you are there are you ? creep out sir if you please. " [4] a tax-gatherer, spectacles on nose, and open book in hand, stoops towards a spitting cat standing on the knee of its mistress, a lean old maid with a small parrot perched on the back of her chair. She says: "i hope sir the tax. Don't extend to my poor tabby. " he answers: "bless me how near sighted i am - i declare i thought it was a lapdog". [5] a stout man, knife in hand, drags by the cravat a man fashionably dressed in dark clothes; he says to his colleague (right): "i am sure i am right now i caught him in fops alley at the opera house. " the other, who holds across his shoulder a number of dead dogs, answers: "take care what you are about john or you will get us both into some confounded scrape - that is a parson. " [6] a yokel in a smock eggs on a bulldog who springs at a collector (right). He says: "at him again towser - we'll teach you to come a dog tax gathering. " the terrified collector says: "what the deuce are you about you have made me spill all my japan ink. " 8 may 1796
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1796. Dimensions: Height: 365 mm; Width: 465 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. Dog Tax gatherers in search of puppies. (BM 1932,0226.18)
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