A pack of hounds is in full cry after an animal with the head of hastings which runs through the gate of st. James's palace (right). He wears a turban; a collar round his neck is inscribed 'hyana', and a large bag inscribed 'diamonds & rupees' is tied to his tail. The hounds are being whipped back by thurlow (left) who rides an ass with the head of the king, shouting "back! back!" he wears a hunting-cap and boots with monstrous spurs, with his chancellor's wig and gown. He is riding over the hounds who have the heads of the leading managers of hastings's impeachment. North (not a manager) lies prostrate and apparently dead under the ass's heels. Burke is being crushed under the animal's off foreleg, while the other kicks fox. The foremost of the pack is sheridan, his collar inscribed 'drury lane'. Behind him are fox, a dog whose collar is inscribed 'francis' (not a manager, see bmsat 7268), and michael angelo taylor, his collar inscribed 'law-chick', see bmsat 6777. The king's head is in profile to the right, his saddle is ornamented with a crown and a jewel is suspended from his neck, probably the famous diamond, see bmsat 6966, &c. Two sentries stand at the gate of the palace with pens in their caps, probably indicating that they are the two secretaries of state, [in wright and evans they are identified as sydney and pitt. Sidney's vis-à-vis, scarcely recognizable, resembles pitt in bmsat 7312] sydney (left) and carmarthen (right), to whom there is some resemblance, and who are peers, cf. Bmsat 7300, &c. 27 april 1788
etching. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 248 mm; Width: 347 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. The Westminster Hunt (BM 1868,0808.5719)
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