A political satire from the 2nd edition of William Humphrey’s ‘The History of the Westminster Election’, which presented ongoing post-election satire, here lampooning events surrounding the scrutiny of votes, ward by ward. The election had taken place in May of 1784, but by early March the following year, when only a ward in Soho had been completed and that in St Martin’s was underway, a vote in parliament was won by 38 votes to force the bailiff of the court overseeing the Scrutiny, Thomas Corbett, to return its findings forthwith. Fox stands triumphant in the centre, wielding the sword of Justice and bearing a shield inscribed ‘Majority 38’, while before him cowers Wray, holding a broken sword and a shield marked ‘Ingratitude’. Beside Wray his lawyers scramble to escape, while behind Fox his lawyers advance bearing a book and scrolls marked ‘Truth’, ‘Law’, ‘Eloquence’ and ‘Perseverance’, as a cherub holds a laurel wreath above his head and unfurls a scroll inscribed ‘It is Ordered that Thomas Corbett Esq.r do immediately Return’.

The Westminster Election proved a huge boost to Rowlandson’s burgeoning career as a caricaturist, the political upheaval providing ample opportunities for him to lampoon both Fox and Pitt, which he did with relish, happily responding to demand from both sides.