Fox, North, and Burke hurled to the ground from a pedestal on which sits the king. On each side of the design is a large rectangular pedestal with a projecting base. That on the left supports a bust of George II, that on the right the seated figure of George III, in profile to the left, blowing a bubble, "R--y--l favour", through a long-stemmed pipe. In his left hand he holds a large scroll inscribed "Starvation, a poem written from feeling in the shades, by T. Chatterton of Bristol. The tears of genius, or merit in distress, an elegy by the Same. Rowly's poems &amp;c." [George III had nothing to do with Chatterton (d.1770), but the Rowley-Chatterton controversy was active 1781-3] Under his arm is a book "Callipedia" (or "Callipaedia").
<p><br>At the king's feet a platform or shutter is falling; it is inscribed, "New Methed [sic] of executing criminals. Fall of the leaf...". It is this which has caused the fall of the three ministers in the central part of the design between the two pedestals. The uppermost is Burke, staggering to the left; he holds in his hand a paper inscribed "Fall of Longinus The Sublim[e and the Beautiful]". Beneath him is North falling head downwards; he holds up in his left hand a pouch inscribed "Budget" from which are falling papers inscribed "Tax on Honesty", "List of Opposition", "Tax on maids", "Disarming the Irish". Fox has already reached the ground and kneels with composure on his left knee. He is saying, "Truth, Honour, Justice, Warring on my side against Oppression, Cruelty &amp; Avarice; I fall to rise more glorious". In his left hand he holds out a paper inscribed "The cries of blood &amp; injured in = Inocence [sic], being an account of the rapacious cruelty committed in India by the I-d-a C-mp-y".
<br>The bust of George II (left), crowned with a laurel wreath, is in profile to the right, irradiated by a star-shaped glory; the pedestal is inscribed:
<br>"The 2nd------| The Father of his People. | British Meridian A.D. 1760.
<br>Just &amp; necessary wars with natural &amp; perfidious enemies; crownd with victory &amp; success: The admirals Hawk, Boscawen, Warren, Anson, Watson, Pocock &amp; Saunders destroying the Enemies fleets in every quarter of the Globe: while our Generals drove them entirely out of America, and dispossess'd them of their cheif Settlements in India. War concludes with a glorious, honourable &amp; advantageous peace: Great Britain look'd up to as the Arbitress of Europe; fear'd by all the world; Sovereign of the Sea and possessed of a greater extent of Territory than Rome in the zenith of her glory!!!------
<br><br>Immortal wreaths for G-----ge fair fame shall twine,
<br>And Britain's tears bedew his msacred [sic] shrine
<br>------Yerac."
<br><br>The pedestal on which George III sits is inscribed:
<br><br>"-----The 3rd------| The Father of his - Children! | British Sunset 1783 ---- | Annals of the Reign of------ By Positive Telltruth, &amp; Impartial Justice, Historians to the People. Stamp Act. Boston Port Bill. American Remonstrance disregarded - 177 - Irish awake 177 -  Start up &amp; 177 -  look about them Peace broken at Concord. Battle [of] Lexington - of Bunker's Hill.  Riots in Lon[don] Irish begin to think,------far themselves - Trenton, Saratoga. Cornwallis taken. Drawn Battles at sea, in the East &amp; West Indies, Europe &amp; Am.
<br>Lose the Empire of the Sea. Hyder Ally defeats Col. Baily. Anarchy, Confusion &amp; Destruction in East In[dies], War concludes with an exhausted Treasury, distracted Councils, divided Senate decay'd Fleet, Enfeebled Army, discontented People &amp; America not only for ever, ever lost to England, but thrown into the arms of our natural enemies!!! Oh!!! Oh!!! Oh!!! unhappy ---!!!
<br>Tempora mutantur. . . . Sic transit gloria Mundi."
<br><br>The head and talons of the Devil appear from behind this pedestal threatening the falling ministers and saying "So perish all who seek to disturb my empire."
<br>At the top of the design the winged figure of Fame, in profile to the left, appears from clouds. She faces the bust of George II, blowing a trumpet inscribed "Good". In her left hand is a trumpet pointing towards George III inscribed "Evil".  From its mouth come the words "disgrace!!  How lost!!! How fallen!!" After 18 December 1783
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<br>Etching
1783<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1783-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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