Burke, writing as he walks, advances towards the door of the 'crown & anchor' tavern, over which is inscribed 'british inquisition'. He wears a skull-cap and long legal robe, from his waist hangs a bag like that of the great seal, on which the royal arms are replaced by a crown and anchor and having a skull at each corner. His head is in profile to the left and he scowls with fiercely protruding lips. He holds up a large sheaf of paper headed 'black list', his pen touching the last word of the inscription (a parody of richard iii): 'beware of n--rf--k! --p--tl--d loves us not! - the r--ss--l's will not join us the man of the people [fox] has lived too long for us! the friends of the people must be blasted by us! sherridan, ersk[ine]. ' on one of the door-posts is a narrow slit inscribed 'anonymous - letter box'. The door of the famous tavern appears to be correctly depicted, but its lamps are surmounted by royal crowns. 19 march 1793
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1793. Dimensions: Height: 347 mm; Width: 250 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. The chancellor of the inquisition marking the incorrigibles. (BM J,3.48)
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