Essay on duelling- anglice doing= him! (BM 1868,0808.10329)

A burlesqued duelling scene. In the centre stands Lennox, legs wide astride, his head turned in profile to the left; he aims one pistol point-blank at the stomach of a man close to him, while he fires with his left hand in the opposite direction, shooting off the curl of the Duke of York (right), who has dropped his pistol, saying, "There goes the best half of my poor Head". The Prince of Wales, who stands full face on the extreme right, holding blunderbusses, rapiers, and pistols, says, "Never mind your head I am your Corps de reserve". Papers protrude from his coat-pocket inscribed 'Chalenge, Chalenge'. At his feet is a letter: 'To the D of R'. Behind the Duke of York and between him and Lennox stands Hanger, stripped to the waist, in the attitude of a pugilist, threatening Lennox; he says, "Bl---st my eyes I'll tip him Ward's damper in no time at all". Lennox says, "A Man need the lives of a Cat for you all, but however gentlemen come on, as far as one poor life will go tis at your Master's service". A second pair of pistols projects from his coat-pocket, a third pair lies on the ground at his feet. His victim, clutching his entrails, says, "A plague of both your Houses------I'm sped". He wears a very long sword inscribed 'Long & strong'; at his feet is an overturned inkpot and pen, and an open pamphlet inscribed 'Letter to the K------by T S'; on this both he and Lennox have placed a foot. A fifth combatant stands on the left, threatening Lennox with a jagged sword inscribed 'Invincible Toledo'. He says, "Sclaps & Tomowhawks - there I would have him & there again - & there damme! Whiz." At his feet are two books: 'Skirmishes in America by Yankee Doodle' and 'Harris's List' [of Covent Garden Ladies]. He is probably Lt.-Col. Banastre Tarleton (whose boastful 'History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 in the Southern Provinces of North America' was published in 1787). On the extreme left stands Prince William, wearing naval uniform with cocked hat and trousers; he holds a sabre and a cat-o'-nine-tails. He says, looking to the right, "Shiver my topsails if I come athawrt him I give him a salt Ell for his supper." 10 July 1789
Hand-coloured etching