The theatrical war

Print shows John Palmer (left), striding across a miniature circular tower surrounded by a moat, falling back under the attacks of two men on the other side of the moat. He wears pseudo-Elizabethan dress, with a cloak; his feathered hat falls off. On his arm, in place of a shield, is a document inscribed 'Licence . . . Wild-moat'; he drops from his right hand a paper inscribed 'Tower Privilege'. Cornwallis, saying, "I am down again". Miniature cannon are firing from the tower. Facing him, one foot on an upturned tub inscribed 'For the Use of Cov: Gar. Wardrobe', is a man wearing nightcap, dressing-gown, and slippers, with an apron, who is about to hurl a bar inscribed 'Castile Soap', saying, "I am a Gentleman, you Vagabond"; on his left arm, in place of a shield, is a paper inscribed 'An Act for regulating the Stage'. He is probably George Colman. Beside him, his left arm in a sling, a young man (? Colman the younger) discharges at Palmer a blast from a pistol inscribed 'Breach of Articles'. Three spectators stand close together on the right, saying, "Mr Palmer, we must oppose: we told you so at Christmas!" They are Sheridan and probably his partners, Linley and Dr. Ford. In the background (right) is a building inscribed 'Circus', in front of which a man stands on one toe on the back of a galloping horse, while a monkey stands on its head on the back of a pig; the pig's saddle is inscribed 'Jacko'; from its mouth issues 'ABC', representing Astley's, General Jacko, and the Learned Pig, and a scroll issuing in a curve from Astley and Jacko is inscribed 'We shall all Play'. Cf. George.