A close copy by C. Williams of an etching originally designed and executed by Gillray and dated May 28, 1806, with the last line of Fox's speech added. Cf. George.
Print shows Fox and Lord Henry Petty standing at the door of a tenement house; a distressed family look down at them from a window over the door. Petty holds a large open book and shouts "Taxes! Taxes! Taxes!". The book, on which Fox puts both hands, is inscribed: 'New Taxes, Property Tax 10 per Cent, Small Beer Tax, Tax on Servant Maids, Iron tax [scored through], new Malt Tax, new Window Tax, new Stamp Tax, Hats, Salt, Tobacco, Shoes, Shirts, stock[ings]'. Between door and window is a board: 'John-Bull, - late Dealer in the Shop-below; - Moved Upstairs: NB - Porter-age done; Shoes clean'd &c.' The angry John shouts down at the pair: "Taxes? - Taxes? - Taxes? - why how am I to get Money to pay them all? - I shall very soon have neither a House, nor Hole to put my head in." Fox answers: " - a house to put your "head in? - why what "the Devil should you want "with a House? - hav'nt "you got a first-Floor-Room "to live in? - & if that is too "dear, can't you move into "the Garret or get into the "Cellar? - Taxes must "be had, Johnny! - come "down with your Cash "its all for the good "of your dear "Country! - was I not always call'd the Friend of the People". In Fox's coat pocket is a large money-bag inscribed 'Poundage'. On the ground floor is a shuttered window placarded 'This Shop to Let Enquire of the Tax Gatherer'. Beside the door is a pump which a little boy pumps, another kneels to put his mouth to the gushing water, while a little girl with a raw turnip eagerly waits her turn. On the pump are two inscriptions: 'New Brewery for the Benefit of the Poor - C.J. F - in ye Chair - Resolved...' and 'Erected 1806 C.J Volpone - Overseer'. By the children lie a hoop-stick and a hoop from a barrel and inscribed 'Whitbreads Entire'. On the left. are barrels inscribed 'Home-Brew'd Small-Beer Ten Shillings a Barrel Duty'. Across the road is a pawnshop with the sign of the three balls: 'Broad-bottom Pop-Shop'. In the upper windows of the prosperous shop are piles of moneybags inscribed 'Pension' and 'Sinecure'.