Swearing to the cutting monster or - a scene in Bow Street., James Gillray, 1790

A young woman stands upon a high stool, her skirts raised to show her posteriors to three men (half length) behind her. She bends forward, pointing to charles fox who stands with his hands handcuffed in a booth or box behind a bar. Fox has an enormous head and an expression of terrified dismay at the denunciation. Behind him is a man in profile holding a constable's staff. The three men are evidently bow street justices (sir sampson wright, addington, and bond); the principal magistrate (wright) wears a hat and spectacles and is much caricatured (cf. Bmsats 6119-21). Above their heads are the evenly balanced scales of justice. In front of the woman stands a clerk (half length) meditatively biting his pen. 20 may 1790 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1790. Dimensions: Height: 253 mm; Width: 353 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Sir William Addington. Collection: British Museum. Swearing to the cutting monster or - a scene in Bow Street. (BM 1868,0808.5938)