Thurlow, seated on the woolsack, and george iii who stands on the extreme left, tug at the bag of the great seal, while pitt and grenville (right) attempt to dislodge the chancellor. The king, in profile to the right, tugs with both hands, saying, "what! what! what! - pull against me neddy? pull against me? - no! no! no! - 'twont do! neddy! 'twont do! leave go! leave go! neddy - dont put me in a passion neddy - but leave go neddy - " thurlow, holding one tassel, says:
"take it ingrate! - and then farewell, - o damnation
i've touched the highest point of all my greatness - damnation
and from that full meridian of my glory - damnation
i haste now to my setting - i shall fall - damnation
like a bright exhalation in the evening - damnation
and no man see me more - damnation! o damnation"
pitt, kneeling on one knee, tugs with both hands at the back of the woolsack, saying, "yeo! yeo! - this one pull more billy-ranger, and we shall secure every thing into our own family, and then leave me alone to take a pull at old nobbs [the king], & john bull. " grenville, also on one knee, pulls with both hands at the chancellor's wig; he says, "bravo! cousin billy! - pull away! - now again! - i have a mighty fancy for this wig! i think it would add dignity to my ranger, & secretaryship!" 24 may 1792
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1792. Dimensions: Height: 250 mm; Width: 357 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: George III, King of the United Kingdom. Collection: British Museum. The fall of the Wolsey of the wolosack. (BM 1851,0901.606 1)
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