Summary
"John Bull, grossly obese, sits in an armchair directed to the right, smoking and holding a goblet inscribed 'For the Belly' in his left hand. His paunch overweights his legs; from below it projects a bunch of four big seals, shaped like mitres, two inscribed 'Dublin' and 'Armagh'. These dangle against his left leg which is bare except for a tattered green cloth and rests on straw. On the other leg, which has gouty misshapen toes, are a neat stocking and shoe. From the left foot rise the words: 'Arrah, now Mr Belly don't be after thinking I'm satisfied--if all the rest are, Och! bother your talk, about dispersing the good things you receive sure none of them come towards me lower than your watch chain: have'nt I been neglected, Och, its withering I am--& tho' some of your bowels yearn over me & say I might be cured, don't part of your hard heart wish me Cut down to the bare bone--but Oh, honey if you get into a row, won't you do better with two stout legs than only one of them--.' John stares down towards the bare toe, which is only just in his range of vision; his words are in the cloud of smoke issuing from his pipe: 'Never mind my poor little limb,--as to the belly Clothed in scarlet & fine lawn I smoke its selfishness, & as its head & Governor will see you righted.'"--British Museum online catalogue.