Satire on the self-interest of politicians of both parties at the time of Robert Walpole's fall. On a platform in the courtyard of St James's Palace is a harlequin, sitting at a table throwing playing-cards in the air and crying, "Knaves all"; Pierrot stands at the front of the platform distributing coronets, mitres and other symbols of office to an eager crowd of men scrambling to sieze them. On either side of the platform are pillars with statues or men: the one in the background, supports the Goddess Obstinacy, that in the foreground, the Goddess Rashness. A large dembodied head of a man floats behind harlequin, saying "The Oracles are struck Dumb". In the foreground, right, a janus-headed man leads in by strings attached to their noses the "Modern Opposition", a crowd of men with asses ears; behind them a griffin devours bags of money labelled, "Secret Services". In the background are two open windows: on the left a woman holds a baby saying that it has "Dad's own Face"; on the right, the king exposes his naked backside preparing to wipe it with "Magna Farta" while a gentleman hands him another sheet of paper lettered, "A further Report" (a reference to his disregard of the reports of the parliamentary committees enquiring into Walpole's conduct); a large elephant's tusk stands in he courtyard beside these windows. 1742
<br>Etching and engraving
1742<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1742-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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