Sheridan (left) writes false reports for the press: he leans forward to write on a paper placed saddle-wise on the back of a demon who leans his arms or paws on the centre of a turnabout (two short bars crossing at right angles which pivot on a post). On the creature's forehead is an ink-pot. While writing busily with a sly smile he hands a paper inscribed 'false reports' to a winged demon. Other demons fly off with similar papers inscribed: "vienna bank millions" and "settled melancholy", while a third, flying towards sheridan, says, "recovery certain". The demon on whom sheridan writes says, grinning, "then we are dam'd for turning and poor joe wont be better posted". The turnabout is inscribed 'wit's last stake and literary corruption'; its base is 'morning post'. Sheridan writes 'her political interference' (his pen on the last word). His paper is '[school for] scandal'. On the right is a building with a bust portrait of the queen for a signboard, inscribed 'q------ c------', and surmounted by a crown. One demon cuts it down with an axe, two others pull at it with ropes. In the foreground lies a staff and cap of liberty, the staff inscribed 'liberty of the press', the cap, 'licentiousness'; from it emerge two twined serpents inscribed 'herald' and 'post'. C. 25 february 1789
etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1789. Dimensions: Height: 135 mm; Width: 195 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Collection: British Museum. Joseph Surface posted (BM J,4.82)
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