The political-banditti assailing the saviour of India [graphic].Gillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker[1788]eng"Hastings, in oriental dress, rides (right to left) a camel. He and the camel look down with dignified contempt at Burke (left), who fires a blunderbuss point-blank at the 'Shield of Honour' on Hastings's left arm. On the shield is a crown. Behind Hastings are Fox and North (right): Fox raises a dagger with burlesqued gestures and an expression of frenzied rage; North, very short and fat, clutches one of the bags behind Hastings inscribed 'Lacks Rupees added to the Revenue'; this is tied to another inscribed 'Rupees Do'. The three assailants are much caricatured and all wear armour; Burke, grotesquely thin and like some malignant insect, wears a Jesuit's biretta (cf. British Museum Satires No. 6026). He somewhat resembles the Don Quixote of British Museum Satires No. 7678, &c, cf. also British Museum Satires No. 7158; a wallet of 'Charges' is slung across his shoulder, bare feet project from the greaves which cover his legs. North wears his Garter ribbon over his armour, with a feathered helmet and top-boots. The point of a large sabre with a damaged blade projects through the tattered scabbard which is inscribed 'American Subjugation'. Fox wears the cloak of a conspirator over his armour (cf. British Museum Satires No. 6389, &c). Hastings (not caricatured) wears a jewelled turban, floating draperies, trousers, and slippers; his camel is heavily draped. On its back are bags, inscribed 'Saved to the Company' and 'Eastern Gems for the British Crown', with a rolled map, 'Territories acquired by W. Hastings'. The background is a mountainous landscape."--British Museum online catalogueTitle etched below image.Printmaker from British Museum catalogue.Reissue of plate originally published with the imprint: Pubd. May 11th, 1786, by Willm. Holland, No. 66 Drury Lane. See British Museum catalogue.Sheet trimmed within plate mark.Temporary local subject terms: Literary allusion through costume: Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote -- Alleged bribery of Hasting's supporters -- Decorated camels -- Hats -- Jesuit's biretta -- Guns: blunderbuss -- Damaged sabres -- Greaves -- India -- Banditti.