Dead politicians among the smoke, flames and demons of hell receive news of the arrangement for the westminster election. The central group consists of sam house (right), a monster composed of implements of gaming (left), and admiral keppel (centre). House's body is composed of a cask from whose tap liquid gushes. In his hand is a tankard inscribed 'sam house', whose contents he flings out; among the stream of liquid are minute demons; he holds a viper-like creature in his left hand. He says, with a puzzled frown, "it's a d------d lie - if it was possible he should do that id go back again and raise a regiment against him. " on keppel's head is a man-of-war inscribed 'lee shore', an allusion to the battle of ushant, see bmsat 5992, &c. The monster, who faces keppel, has the head of a die; his body is covered with four roulette boards from eo tables and with dice-boxes. In his right hand is a billiard cue, and his arm is composed of playing-cards with a billiard-ball for elbow-joint. He has the legs and tail of a demon. On the left is dunning (lord ashburton) seated among flames; behind him is an escutcheon (a parody of ashburton's) with a demon rampant, the supporters are monsters belching flames; it is surmounted by a baron's coronet; the motto is 'studiis et rebus. [honestis]', serpents are twisted round his arms. He says, "i wish they would bring an action for ingratitude i'll plead for them gratis worse than a counsellor by g--d. " next him (right) is lord holland with a fox's head and wig as depicted in caricature by townshend and others. He is inscribed 'millions unaccounted for' (an allusion to the city remonstrance in which he was styled the 'public defaulter of unaccounted millions', see bmsat 4299, &c). He turns his head in profile to the right, saying, "oh i shall soon embrace the dear dark rogue" [his son charles]. On the extreme right is a plainly dressed man wearing an apron; in his left hand is his hat inscribed 'd------ja------bs' (reversed). He holds up a paper inscribed: 'charles fox join'd lord hood to sneak in to westminster & then told his patriotic supporters they had no money'. He says, "yes by jacob and that moment i went home burnt his d------nd picture cut up the blue & buff curtains for childrens pilches and gave the maid my buff waistcoat (which i bought of foxs servant), to make dishclouts". He is evidently one jacobs and one of fox's humbler (and disgruntled) supporters in westminster. From among the flames looks up a melancholy profile with lank hair and wearing bands, evidently a dissenting minister, who asks, "any news about the test act". Among the smoke and flames are imps and monsters; among them is a demon riding a galloping horse with a human profile who chases minute hares. A small demon stands on the edge of a punch-bowl ladling out its flaming contents into a glass. There is also a creature with the head, wings, and spurs of a fighting-cock on a human body. 20 april [1790]. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1790. Dimensions: Height: 272 mm; Width: 397 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: John Dunning, 1st Baron Ashburton. Collection: British Museum. Hell in an uproar- or an express from the committee (BM 1868,0808.5928)
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