The coward comforted, or, A scene immediately after the duel [graphic].Gillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker[29 May 1789]eng"Lennox leans back on a sofa, his pistol in his hand, looking up with a melancholy expression. A lady (left) holds a smelling-bottle to his nose; the Duke of Richmond (right), leaning on one end of the sofa, regards his nephew anxiously. Lennox says: "I had been happy, if the Gen'ral Camp Foot-soldiers, all, had pull'd my Nose in private, So it had not been told; O, now for ever Farewell the Plumed Troops & the big War, The spirit-stirring Drum & the ear piercing fife, The Royal Banner & all quality, Pride, Pomp, & Circumstance of glorious War Farewell! Your Hero's reputations gone!" The lady, Lady Charlotte Gordon (who married Lennox, see BMSat 7594), says: "O my dear shiv'ring L. .. . x [These words have been ostensibly obliterated by cross-hatching which leaves them legible and makes them conspicuous.]! do compose yourself, for the sake of your dear Charlotte! Ah! that hot-blooded-fellow has fright'ned him into an Ague - come do take a sniff at your Charlotte's smelling-bottle, the Bonny Duchess says that my smelling Bottle is a nice Thing to raise a Man's courage, I long for you to take hold of it, my dear L ... x. [These words have been ostensibly obliterated by cross-hatching which leaves them legible and makes them conspicuous.] Richmond says, "Don't fret yourself my dear Nephew, [These words have been ostensibly obliterated by cross-hatching which leaves them legible and makes them conspicuous.] you have behaved like a Man of Spirit & Honor; - your putting up with a public Insult when you could have resented it, shews your magnanimity! your pretending not to remember the words of the insult, shews your harmless disposition! - your Letters to the Club, your good-sense! - their being sent a week before the Duel, your want of malice! as it gave his Highness's friends an opportunity to secure him from your resentment, by putting you under arrest! - your firing first, proves your spirit! - your not waiting to be shot at, your discretion! - & your being satisfied with only attempting the life of the son of your **** proves your Loyalty, & generosity! - therefore, my dear Boy, take comfort, get the better of this Ague, which you are thrown into by pulling the trigger, &, if you are kick'd out of one Regiment, Nunkle will beg another for you, as a reward for your Gallantry & good-will to the house of Hanover!!!" Pitt (left) looks round a door, saying, "Heav'ns L . . . x [These words have been ostensibly obliterated by cross-hatching which leaves them legible and makes them conspicuous.] what's the matter? I hope you've succeeded in lessening the number of my Plagues.""--British Museum online catalogueTitle etched below image; the word 'coward' has scratched out with numerous etched lines but is still legible.Printmaker from British Museum catalogue."Price 1 sh./6 plain."Sheet trimmed within plate mark.Temporary local subject terms: Military uniforms: lieutenant-colonel, 35th Foot -- Duels: Duke of York and Lt.-Col. Lennox -- Guns: pistols -- Medicinal: smelling bottles -- Furniture: sofas -- Charlotte (Gordon), Duchess of Richmond, 1768-1842.