The Fox and Geese triumphant, William Dent, 1784

A satire on the chairing of fox on the declaration of the poll for westminster. Fox, with a fox's body, sits astride a goose with the head of the prince of wales; he grins with satisfaction; on his erect brush is inscribed 'at your grace's service'. Behind him (right) holding hands, come the duchess of devonshire and sam house; they dance along, the duchess with her right hand on her hip, sam with his left. She wears a riding-habit; in her large hat are a fox favour and a branch of laurel with four fox tails, inscribed respectively, 'love and \ liberty \ guy \ vaux'. Sam's hat, like those of the four other men in the procession, is decorated with a 'fox' favour, a fox's brush inscribed 'fox', and a laurel branch. The hat of the goose with the head of the prince of wales has a fox favour, three ostrich plumes with the motto 'ich dien', and a laurel branch. In front of the goose is a procession of four men: the foremost (left) holds a wand of office and a paper inscribed with the (correct) result of the poll: 'charly boy 6234 hood 6694 wray 5998'. Round his neck is a medallion on which is a portcullis, and (in reverse) 'key herald', suggesting that he is a westminster justice and had carried the large key, emblem of the 'back stairs' which was a feature of fox's election processions, see bmsat 6564. He is perhaps justice kelly, see bmsat 6575; he has a concave and repulsive profile. Next come the drum and fife of the procession, both wearing high caps like those of the grenadiers. The man with the drum is the apothecary, hall, wearing spectacles; his drum is his mortar, inscribed 'all apothecary'. On the front of his cap is a fox on its hind legs, and 'all blue and buff dependants'. Lord john cavendish, playing the fife, is very short, his head on a level with hall's elbow; on his cap is a fox on its hind legs and 'uncle jacky'. Immediately in front of the goose walks the earl of surrey holding a banner on which are the words 'success to fox, freedom, weavers, butchers and irish chairmen', and a burlesque coat of arms for westminster: a portcullis on a shield, with two geese (cf. No. 5843, &c. ) as supporters; the motto is 'a pliant conscience'. The crest is a fox's head (dexter) and a goose's head (sinister). 21st may 1784 etching. Date: 1784. Dimensions: Height: 248 mm; Width: 322 mm (corners missing). Medium: paper. Depicted People: Nicholas Casson. Collection: British Museum. The Fox and Geese triumphant (BM 1868,0808.5315)