An unwelcome visit [graphic]

"A stout John Bull sits in an arm-chair holding a long pipe in his left hand which rests on a circular table beside a glass and bottle of 'Coniac'. He looks up with an anxious scowl at an elderly man who stands (right), saying, "I 'am come again about the Taxes Sir - if agreeable to you to discharge them". The tax-collector holds a large open book, 'New Taxes for the Year 1796', [The last figure is doubtful] in which he writes with his left hand. He wears a hat in which a pen is thrust, an ink-bottle hangs from a button, in each pocket of his greatcoat is a large book, one being 'Additional Taxes on Window Lights'. Under his arm is another large book: '[T]axes Receipts Taxes'. Beside the taxpayer sits a dog, who glares up at the tax-collector with an expression resembling that of his master."--British Museum online catalogue