A trip to the races [graphic]

"'Cits' (i.e. citizens) ride (left to right) (types of vulgar horsemanship, cf. BMSats 7233, 7242) in a cloud of dust, following a crowded stage-coach inscribed 'To the Races'. A rough two-wheeled cart, crammed with a family party, is drawn by a cantering pony. A signpost points 'To the Race Ground'. A suburban setting is given by the country box and 'grounds' of a 'cit', with a notice-board: 'Spring Blunderbusss on a new Construction - Planted in Various Paths of my Domain & whosown Trample Down or pull up the Shrubs in this Garden shall be Prosecuted - Deputy Dump'. In front of the house the owner (?) and his wife look over the paling at the race-goers. The house is a square box, whose small scale is indicated by the size of a pot-plant on the flat roof; on this are also figures of Neptune, Harlequin, and Mercury. Adjacent (left) is a shed inscribed 'Mr Dumps Stables', with a pretentious cupola."--British Museum online catalogue