Charon's-boat, or, The ghost's of "all the talents" taking their last voyage [graphic]

"The 'Broad-Bottom Packet' sails through the mouth of a cave towards the distant shore, where the spirits of the departed stand waving a welcome. Its occupants, the defeated Ministers, are all naked. The torn sail is inscribed 'Catholic Emancipation'. To the top of the mast a cross, inscribed 'Ich dien', is bound with tricolour lashings, and is surmounted by the Prince's feathers, tied on with a tricolour ribbon inscribed 'Fitz[herbert]'. Moira stands with one hand on the mast, putting a cross to his lips; his eyes are fixed on the feathers (cf. BMSat 10253, &c.). In the stern (r.) sits St. Vincent, holding the tiller and shouting: "Avast - ! Trim ye Boat! or these damn'd Broad bottom'd Lubbers will overset us all." The boat is low on the port side where are the three vast Grenvilles, with the massive Sheridan beside them. Granule, waving a Cardinal's hat, holds a chalice, and addresses the posterior of his brother, all that appears, as he grovels at the bottom of the boat; this is marked with a cross and inscribed 'Ballast from Stow'. He says: "Courage Brother! - take Extreme Unction! & don't despair." Temple sits on the edge of the boat holding a paper: 'Stationary - Paymasr Office' [see BMSat 10721, &c]; his other papers trail in the water: 'Places', 'Pensions', 'Sinecures'; a bunch of pens floats away, as does a copy of the 'Morning Chronicle', the Whig newspaper. Next him, Erskine leans over the side vomiting 'Catholic Emetic'. In the water an open wig-box is floating inscribed 'Lord Double Bottoms his Wig Kings Bench': Lord Ellenborough's wig, inscribed on one side 'Loyalty', on the other 'Opposition', is falling into the water. Behind Erskine is the tall Howick standing with one foot on the gunwale and using a massive 'Whig Club' as a punt-pole. A cloak is attached to his shoulders by a tricolour ribbon. He says fiercely: "Better to Reign in Hell! - than Serve in Heaven!" In the bows stands little Lord Henry Petty, one simian foot on the gunwale, playing a dancing-master's fiddle or kit; under his foot is a paper, 'Dance Go to the Devil & shake Yourselves' [see BMSat 10589]. Below Howick is his brother-in-law, Whitbread, singing from a book of 'Wesleys Hyms', a frothing tankard of 'Whitbreads Entire' [cf. 10421] in his left hand. Sheridan vomits, his hand to his forehead. Behind him is the austere Windham, pen in hand; he holds a paper: 'Scheme for Drilling Imps in Hell' [see BMSat 10596, &c.]. ..."--British Museum online catalogue