Publication
[London] : Pubd. July 23d, 1782, by P.J. Leatherhead, [23 July 1782]
Provenance
From a collection in twelve volumes probably compiled by Francis Harvey and sold at auction, Sotheby, London, June 1900. Bequest of Hugh Dudley Auchincloss to Yale University Library, 1981. Bound by Riviere & Son in three-quarters red morocco with gold tooling and gold lettering on spine.
Summary
"Shelburne (left), as the kettle, looks at Fox (right), the porridge-pot, who is running away. Shelburne's body is in the form of a kettle, much blackened underneath; the handle, attached to his chest and shoulders, extends over his head. He has a complacent smile and holds out his hands, pointing towards Fox; his left foot is on the neck of a goose, which lies on its back on the ground. He is saying, "Oh do but look how black his Arse is!" Fox (right) with the head of a fox, his body a large circular pot, blackened underneath, is running away with an alarmed expression, his hands held up, his tongue hanging out. In the centre of the design, between the two figures is a sign-post, its arm, pointing to the right, is terminated by a well-drawn hand holding a die in its fingers, but pointing with its fore-finger in the direction in which Fox is running. The arm of the post is inscribed "TO BROOKS'S"; from it hangs a rope with a noose at the end of it. On the post is hung up a placard inscribed "To be Lett- either as a Gibbet or Direction Post". A landscape with bushes forms the background."--British Museum online catalogue.