Satire on the Duke of Grafton's administration and its dealings with the East India Company, in particular negotiations for the extension of the Company's charter; Bute is shown as influencing the Duke's actions; illustration to the Political Register, March 1768. Grafton is shown as the highwayman, Macheath, demanding a bag of money, at pistol point ("Stand and Deliver"), form the directors of the Company; in the background, a man identified by Stephens as William Pitt, dressed as the king of France, begs Lord Bute, "Necessity Pinches me, Money we must have", to which Bute replies, "Gin my Lad there does as I bid we'll have plenty". Behind, is the open door of a grand house through which can be seen a row of fire-buckets, suggesting that the country is at risk of conflagration.
<br>Etching and engraving
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1855-0609-1956">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1855-0609-1956</a>