Father Paul & the lay porter, or, The particular state of particular expences

"Burke (left), a very thin 'lay porter', addresses Thurlow (right), who is very obese and holds in his left a heart inscribed 'Humanity', from which a piece has been broken. He is Father Paul in Sheridan's 'Duenna' (III. v). They face each other in profile. Burke is dressed as a monk (cf. BMSat 6026), a rosary with a cross inscribed 'Impeachment' hangs from his girdle. In his hand is a paper inscribed 'Account of expences attending a Trial. . . Esqr.' He says, "We ask no more than is needfull, and so little have we had, that we are almost starved". Thurlow answers, "It's false; you feast and Gormandize, whilst we are wasting". (The words are adapted from 'The Duenna'.) On his goblet, inscribed 'Pleasure', is a scene of persons being sabred, while a body hangs from a gibbet. Behind Burke and Thurlow is a curtain which cuts off part of the room. Above it (centre) is the top of a jewelled turban, as worn by Hastings in caricature, surmounted by feathers inscribed 'Treasury Warrants'. From it ascends vertically a sword to whose blade are attached horizontal bunches of leaves; from these hang four hats inscribed respectively 'Middlet[on]', 'Impey', 'Holt', 'Ben'. A man (? Burges) looks through the curtain at Burke; in his hand are two scrolls: 'Profus[ion]', 'Oeconomy'. On the wall (left) is a picture of a bull inscribed: 'Decided either way Poor John is sure to pay.' His blood gushes out in a copious fountain into a pit inscribed 'Private Defence', while from another wound it merely drips into a hole inscribed 'Public Prosecution'. The frame is inscribed 'John Bull. Paymaster'. On the right is a placard, inscribed 'Good Entertainment Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays' (cf. BMSats 7313, 7314) and surmounted by a crown."--British Museum online catalogue.