Lennox leans back on a sofa, his pistol in his hand, looking up with a melancholy expression. A lady (left) holds a smelling-bottle to his nose; the duke of richmond (right), leaning on one end of the sofa, regards his nephew anxiously. Lennox says:
"i had been happy, if the gen'ral camp
foot-soldiers, all, had pull'd my nose in private,
so it had not been told; o, now for ever
farewell the plumed troops & the big war,
the spirit-stirring drum & the ear piercing fife,
the royal banner & all quality,
pride, pomp, & circumstance of glorious war
farewell! your hero's reputations gone!"
the lady, lady charlotte gordon (who married lennox, see bmsat 7594), says: "o my dear shiv'ring l. X [these words have been ostensibly obliterated by cross-hatching which leaves them legible and makes them conspicuous. ]! do compose yourself, for the sake of your dear charlotte! ah! that hot-blooded-fellow has fright'ned him into an ague - come do take a sniff at your charlotte's smelling-bottle, the bonny duchess says that my smelling bottle is a nice thing to raise a man's courage, i long for you to take hold of it, my dear l. X. [these words have been ostensibly obliterated by cross-hatching which leaves them legible and makes them conspicuous. ] richmond says, "don't fret yourself my dear nephew, [these words have been ostensibly obliterated by cross-hatching which leaves them legible and makes them conspicuous. ] you have behaved like a man of spirit & honor; - your putting up with a public insult when you could have resented it, shews your magnanimity! your pretending not to remember the words of the insult, shews your harmless disposition! - your letters to the club, your good-sense! - their being sent a week before the duel, your want of malice! as it gave his highness's friends an opportunity to secure him from your resentment, by putting you under arrest! - your firing first, proves your spirit! - your not waiting to be shot at, your discretion! - & your being satisfied with only attempting the life of the son of your **** proves your loyalty, & generosity! - therefore, my dear boy, take comfort, get the better of this ague, which you are thrown into by pulling the trigger, &, if you are kick'd out of one regiment, nunkle will beg another for you, as a reward for your gallantry & good-will to the house of hanover!!!"
pitt (left) looks round a door, saying, "heav'ns l. X [these words have been ostensibly obliterated by cross-hatching which leaves them legible and makes them conspicuous. ] what's the matter? i hope you've succeeded in lessening the number of my plagues. " 29 may 1789
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1789. Dimensions: Height: 250 mm; Width: 351 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany and Bishop of Osnabrück, . Collection: British Museum. The coward, comforted,-or-a scene immediately after the duel. (BM 1868,0808.5863)
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