The National Assembly petrified. The National Assembly revivified [graphic].

"A design in two compartments, one above the other, the figures in both being three quarter length. [1] A ragged French barber, in profile to the right, gesticulating and capering, says to six terror-stricken companions: "O sacre dieu! de King is escape! de King is escape". The foremost listener is a tailor, his shears stuck through the string of his apron, a measuring-tape round his shoulders, but wearing a cocked hat and sword. On the extreme left is a diminutive postboy. All are much caricatured with expressions denoting dismay. The barber wears a bag-wig, with a comb stuck in his hair; the others wear tricolour cockades in their hats. [2] Another group of ruffians listen with delight to a cook (left) who says, taking a pinch of snuff, and capering, "Aha! be gar, de King is retaken! Aha! Monsr Lewis is retaken! Aha!" In his cap is a tricolour cockade inscribed 'Liberty'; he wears over-sleeves, a spoon and fork are stuck through his apron-string, a string of frogs hangs from his belt. His most prominent listener is a shoe-black with a grotesquely wide grin, who stands, shoe in one hand, brush in the other. These much-caricatured ragamuffins are typical of the French republicans depicted by Gillray: at once ludicrous and horrible."--British Museum online catalogue.