A bowl or boat floats on the sea within the jaws of a monster with a cat-like face. In it sit seven people, full face, all but one with cat's whiskers. In the centre is a judge, probably Thurlow the Lord Chancellor, on his left is a Scot wearing a plaid, probably Bute, still regarded as potent, or perhaps Lord Loughborough (Wedderburn), next, a figure whose anchor shows that he is Sandwich, first Lord of the Admiralty. Then comes North, wearing his ribbon and star and (incorrectly) a baron's coronet. On the Chancellor's right is a man with a Grenadier's cap and a banner, perhaps Jenkinson, the Secretary at War. Next him is a cat-faced man, and on the outside (left) a judge whose head is framed in a gallows, probably Mansfield. 
<p><br>Four dogs are swimming towards the bowl, their collars inscribed respectively "America" (left), "France", "Spain", and "Holland" (right), the last smaller than the others and smoking a pipe. In the foreground on the right is the shore; on it is a decayed oak-tree, overgrown with fungus, in which is planted a Union flag. Beneath it a skeleton-like greyhound (Scotland) is devouring a heart and entrails (England's vitals). Beneath the design is engraved:
<br><br>"Behold the Ministerial foul Fish 
<br>Float in Political Bowl Dish, 
<br>Drove at the Pleasure of the Tide, 
<br>Assail'd by Foes on ev'ry Side.
<br><br>Alas, Old England, must you Fail 
<br>And for such Miscreants turn Tail 
<br>America Insults the Nation 
<br>And says a Fig for your Taxation.
<br><br>France, Spain &amp; Holland, Join the Cry 
<br>And Drive them to their Destiny, 
<br>While Scotland pleas'd at all their Deeds 
<br>Upon Old Englands Vitals Feeds." 11 February 1781
</p>
<br>Etching
1781<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1781-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-4628">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-4628</a>