The royal rush light [graphic]

"The King and Ministers, as domestic servants in déshabille, surround a rush-light, trying, with fierce intentness, to blow it out. The flame of the light encloses the head of Queen Caroline wearing her feathered hat; the rush is supported on a saveall formed of the head of Wood [Brougham, according to Reid, who is incorrect in some of the other identifications], and placed in a kitchen candlestick standing on a rectangular table. The centre figure is Eldon, his Chancellor's wig formed of a pair of breeches. He leans sideways and the King, wearing a night-cap, looks over his shoulder, blowing downwards. Next them is Wellington, whose blast is better directed than that of the others, but all miss the flame by blowing too low. On the left are two old women, Sidmouth, using his (green) clyster-pipe as a squirt, and Liverpool, whose night-cap is a green bag (see British Museum Satires No. 13735). Facing these are the Duke of York, next Eldon, and the Duke of Clarence on the extreme left, as a hideous black man, whose strong but ill-directed blast is inscribed 'Slander' [see British Museum Satires No. 14031, &c.]. Three other heads are in shadow, like the King; they watch with anxiety, but are not blowing; they are Castlereagh (left) and two women (right). Below the design: "Cook, Coachee, men & maids, very near all in buff, Came & swore in their lives they never met with such a light; And each of the family by turns had a puff, At the little farthing rush light, The curst farthing rush light, But none of the family Could blow out the rush light.!""--British Museum online catalogue