Cooling the brain, or, The little major shaving the shaver
[London] : Pubd. May 8th, 1789, by J. Aitken, Castle Street, Leicester Square, [1789]
Publisher's advertisement above the image: Aitken's exhibition room in Castle Street, Leicester Fields, is now opend for the inspection of the nobility, & the public in general, containing the only compleat assortment of satiric, humourous & caricature productions now extant. Admission gratis.
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
"Burke, as a lunatic, is seated on straw dressed only in breeches, but wearing a rosary and crucifix round his neck; Major Scott stands behind him, shaving his head. His right wrist and left ankle are chained to a staple in the floor, the chains being inscribed 'The Censure of the Commons' and 'The Contempt of the Lords'. He clenches his fists and turns his head in profile to the right, towards a vision of Hastings, saying, "Ha! Miscreant! Plunderer! Murderer of Nundocomar! where wilt thou hide thy head now ?" Hastings walks in profile to the right, carrying a sack over his shoulder inscribed '£4000000'; he is about to enter the gate of 'St James's' from which two hands emerge to receive him labelled (in reversed characters) 'Welcome'. Clouds surround Hastings and the Palace, showing that this is a vision. In the background (left) is a gibbet from which hangs a figure rudely drawn, as if chalked on awall, representing 'Nundocomar'. ..."--British Museum online catalogue.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.