[Joseph Ritson] [print] / JS f.

Print shows Joseph Ritson standing at a desk in profile to the Ieft, writing in a large book headed "Common Place". His finger- and toe-nails are talons; he dips his pen in an ink-stand inscribed "Gall", and has written: "Moses an Impostor the prophets old Cloaths Men of Judæa Warburton a fool Dr Percy a Liar Warton an infamous Liar a pipeer better than a parson". He wears a tightly buttoned overcoat and a top-hat; his toes project through broken shoes. From his pocket projects a pamphlet: "The Atheist's pocket Companion." He stands on a slab of (damaged) papers headed "Dr Percy's Antient Balla[ds]" and at his feet is a large open book; on one page is a half length portrait of Thomas Warton stabbed through with a knife and fork; on the other, "History of English Poetry".The room is filled with heavy folio volumes and vegetables. A cow (head only visible) munches at a basket of large leaves beside a paper: "Bill of Fare \ Nettle Soup \ Sour Crout \ Horse Beans \ Onions Leeks". On a top shelf an emaciated cat, heavily chained, strains in vain towards two rats who nibble a bunch of candles; beside it is an open book: "Abstinence from animal Food a moral duty". On Ritson's desk at left is a pile of books on which squats a frog beneath a pile of vegetables.