Fox and north, as coal-heavers, stand shovelling guineas into a sack. Fox (left), in profile to the right, with a fox's head and brush, holds open the mouth of the sack which is nearly full. North (right) stands full-face, holding a long shovel in both hands from which guineas pour into the sack. At his feet are piles of guineas. He is saying "pretty pickings charley". The sack is inscribed "for private use". On a rope stretched along the wall behind them hang a number of empty sacks inscribed "m. T. " (empty) and "d°", implying that the treasury has been raided. Over these sacks is a 3 scroll inscribed "for the use of the publick". The slovenly dressing for which fox was already noted is caricatured: he wears a shirt and waistcoat, his breeches are unbuttoned at the knee, his stockings ungartered, his shoe is unfastened, his brush comes through his torn breeches. His fox's head, with open mouth, protruding tongue, and great display of teeth, has an expression of greedy satisfaction. North, enormously fat, wears a ruffled shirt and breeches, with his garter ribbon. Beneath the title is etched:
"two virtuous elves,
taking care of themselves. " 16 april 1783
etching. Date: 1783. Dimensions: Height: 235 mm; Width: 320 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Charles James Fox. Collection: British Museum. The Cole-heavers. (BM 1851,0901.135)
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