Pro bono publico the political cluster in terrorem / [graphic]

"A conventional vine-branch ascends the left side of the design, then turns at right angles; from it hangs a symmetrical cluster of heads or masks of Fox and his supporters with closed eyes; the stalk attaching it to the branch is inscribed 'Ripe Fruit for Old Nick'. The central and largest head is that of Fox. On the left and right and slightly lower are the heads of North and Burke; these three are larger than the remaining heads. Between them and beneath Fox's chin are Keppel (left), and (right) perhaps Jack Lee. The apex of the cluster, between the stalk and Fox, is Lord Derby looking downwards. Flanking him, in profile, are Lord Stormont (left) and Lord John Cavendish (right)-Below Stormont and above North is the Duke of Portland, in profile to the left. Below Cavendish and above Burke is an unidentified profile having some resemblance to Carlisle. The lowest point of the cluster is the mask of Sam House. Between this and the heads of North and Burke on each side are two small profiles: below North (left) that of Hall the apothecary, and between Hall and House the hideous profile of the Westminster Justice (? Kelly), see BMSat 6575, &c.; below Burke (right) that of the Earl of Surrey, and between Surrey and House that of Powys. On the ground at the foot of the vine-branch and beneath the cluster is a pile of objects inscribed 'Trophies'. In the foreground (left) is a pair of crutches inscribed 'Patriotic Props'. In the centre of the base of the pile are (left) a fox's brush inscribed 'Euphorbium' (an allusion to the 'sneezing-bag' thrown at Fox, see BMSat 6426, &c.) and (right) a mask of the faces of Fox and North inscribed 'Coalition' imitated from 'The Mask by Sayers', see BMSat 6234. On the extreme left is a document inscribed 'Œconomy (but the word scored through) 24,000l. Pr Annum'; against it lie a pair of spectacles, emblems of Burke and the meagre results of his Bill of Economical Reform (cf. BMSat 5657). On the extreme right is a pestle (inscribed 'Capricum, Capricum') and mortar and another pair of spectacles, emblems of Hall the apothecary. Beside the pestle is a document inscribed 'Receipt Tax', an unpopular measure of the Coalition (see BMSat 6243, &c.) which was dropped by Pitt; a flag inscribed 'July 27th', a gibe at Keppel's conduct at the Battle of Ushant in 1778 (see BMSat 5992, &c); a paper inscribed 'American War', a gibe at North. In the centre, lying against the fox's brush, is a document inscribed 'India Bill' (see BMSat 6271, &c.) and an open book inscribed 'Platonic Love'. The three remaining trophies, at the summit of the pile, are a weaver's shuttle inscribed 'Weavers', to insinuate that Fox had bribed Spitalfields weavers to vote for him, see BMSat 6575, &c.; a laurel branch, emblem of victory in the Westminster Election; and a butcher's cleaver inscribed 'Westminster Election', emblem of the butchers canvassed by the Duchess of Devonshire"--British Museum online catalogue