Homer singing his verses to the Greeks., James Gillray, 1797

Captain morris (left) sits in profile to the right, singing from a broadside which he holds out in his left hand: 'a new song to the tune of the plenipoy'. In his right hand is a full glass. He wears a round hat and fashionable half-boots; his coat, breeches, and stockings are tattered. From his pocket projects a pamphlet: 'captain morris's songs by subscription' (cf. Bmsat 9240). Fox and sheridan sit on opposite sides of a small round table, on which is a decanter of 'brandy'. Sheridan, left, with bardolph's fiery face, cf. Bmsat 7528, &c, holds his glass and looks delightedly at morris, as does fox (as falstaff), who says: "come sing me a boosey-song, [a misquotation from 'i henry iv', iii. Iii, where falstaff says, "come, sing me a bawdy song; make me merry. "] to make me merry". Part of the face of a fourth man appears on the right. 16 june 1797 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1797. Dimensions: Height: 278 mm; Width: 343 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Charles James Fox. Collection: British Museum. Homer singing his verses to the Greeks. (BM 1868,0808.6643)