Item no. 108 of a collection of prints by James Sayers (PML 146857); formerly part of an album of mounted prints, now disbound.
Lettered below the title within the image: A Return of the Comet which appeared in 1761 [Above the final '1' of the date is a '2'.] is expected this Year and to be within our horizon from the month of Octr 1788 to Augt 1789 ... Sr Isaac Newton asserts That the Tail of a Comet is nothing else than a fine Vapour which the Head of the Comet emits by its heat that Heat the Comet receives from the Sun and the magnitude of the Tail is always proportional to the degree of heat which the Comet receives, and Comets which are nearest to the Sun have the longest Tails---.
With the names of some of the subjects depicted inscribed in pencil in the upper margin.
Print shows a comet traversing the design diagonally and downwards from left to right across an aquatinted background; the head is that of the Prince Wales in a star, the tail contains the heads of his disappointed followers: Sheridan, Fox, Portland, the wig in back view of Lord Loughborough, Stormont, North, the Duke of Queensberry (one of the "rats") holding up a quizzing-glass, Powys, Lord Lothian (another "rat"), Burke, and the Duke of Norfolk. Between Norfolk and Queensberry is the "profil perdu" of Derby. They are followed by Lord Sandwich, Bishop Watson of Llandaff, and Sir Grey Cooper. Next are two clerical wigs in back view identified by Miss Banks as Wilson, Bishop of Bristol, and Warren, Bishop of Bangor, while in the upper left corner of the print is the swarthy profile of Sawbridge. Cf. George.