A puerile attack on an old servant / JS f.

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James Sayers
1748-1823
A puerile attack on an old servant / JS f.
Peel 3321
Published: 
[London] : Published by Thos. Cornell, Bruton Strt, 17th March 1787.
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Inscription: 

In pencil at foot: Sir Ja Erskine.

Notes: 

Title etched below image.

Summary: 

Print shows Sir James Erskine dressed as a little girl but wearing a man's wig, bending forward in profile to the left to thrash a mastiff (Hastings) who lies (left) surrounded by a wreath of thorns, his collar inscribed 'Keeper of Ind[ia]'. He holds in his left hand a paper inscribed 'Speec[h] for Thur[sday] Monopoly of Opium'. On the lash of Erskine's whip is a judge's wig inscribed 'Defence of Lord Clive'; its handle is decorated with bells. Burke's head and right arm project into the upper right corner of the design; he holds leading-strings attached to Erskine's shoulders. Below him and immediately behind Erskine are the head and shoulders of Francis, who leans forward, clapping his hands. Above Hastings a rectangular block inscribed 'Impeachment' hangs by a thread. Beside him are three stones, which have been thrown at him, inscribed respectively 'Malice', 'Eloquence', and 'Calumny'. Cf. George.

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