Lilliputian-substitutes equiping for public service [graphic]

"The new Ministers (identified by inscriptions below the design) don the clothes of their predecessors. These are (left to right) the Chancellor (Eldon) on the Woolsack, in back view, wearing the wig, enormously elongated so that it trails on the floor, characteristic of Loughborough (cf. BMSat o. 6796): 'Lord L------gh------h's large Wig'. He says: "O such a Day as This, so renown'd so victorious, \ "Such a Day as This, was never seen!" His feet are pressed against the front bench. The principal figure is that of Addington standing in profile to the right on the 'Treasury Bench', inside an enormous jack-boot, reaching to his neck: over this hangs Pitt's far too large coat (the Windsor uniform, blue with red facings). His forehead disappears in a vast cocked hat, and his wig-bag is enormous. He is 'Mr Pitt's Jack-Boot'. He says: "Well! to be sure these here Cloaths do fit me to a inch! - & now that I've got upon this Bench, I think I may pass muster for a fine tall Fellow, & do as well for a Corporal, as my old Master, Billy, himself!!! - ". In front stands Hawkesbury, youthful, nervous, and almost tearful; he stands within the bulky breeches of his predecessor as 'Ld G - n - le's Breeches'; he says: "Mercy upon me! - what a Deficiency is here!!! ah poor Hawkee! - what will be the consequence, if these d------d Breeches should fall off in thy ''March to Paris", & thou should be found out a Sans-Culotte?" Lord Hobart, a very broad figure, 'Mr D-d-s's Broad Sword', stands full face, a curious divided petticoat (made out of Dundas's kilt) is buttoned under his arms, over a military coat. His head is overweighted by Dundas's large Scots cap; he stands defiantly, left hand on hip, in his right he holds erect a broad-sword dripping blood. He says: "Ay! Ay! leave Us to settle them all! here's my little Andrew Ferrara!!! - was it not Us that tip'd em the broadside in the Baltic? - was it not Us that gave ye Crocodiles a breakfast in Egypt? - I'm a Rogue if it is not Us that is to save little England from being swallow'd up in the Red Sea!!!" In the foreground (right) the fat, elderly, but comely Lord Glenbervie (who succeeded Canning as Paymaster General) sits on the floor in shirt and waistcoat, trying to pull on the pointed slippers which are far too long and too narrow for his gouty feet. He is 'Mr C-n-g's Old Slippers'. He says: "ah, Dam'n his narrow Pumps! I shall never be able to bear them long on my Corns! - zounds! are these Shoes fit for a Man, in present-pay Free Quarters". Behind him stand together the two new Treasury secretaries (John Hiley Addington, brother of the Minister, wearing spectacles, and Nicholas Vansittart). They wear the coats of their predecessors, which trail on the ground, and hold, like muskets at attention, two enormous pens. On the head of each is a vast round ink-pot: 'G. Rose's old Stand' and 'C. Long's old Stand'. They are 'Treasury Ink Stands'. Behind (left), partly hidden by Eldon and Addington, are two unidentified figures: a man wearing a large naval cocked hat, and a lawyer in back view. The former must be St. Vincent who succeeded Spencer at the Admiralty. The latter may be Law who became Attorney General. Between and behind Addington and Hawkesbury is a sulky-looking man in a military coat and an enormous busby in which is a huge pen: 'Wyndham's Cap & Feather'. He is Charles Yorke who succeeded Windham as Secretary of War."--British Museum online catalogue