The Shaftsbury election, or, The humours of Punch [graphic].

"A design in compartments showing the malpractices at the Shaftesbury election of 1774 which became notorious owing to the petition of the defeated candidate, the subsequent proceedings in the House of Commons, and actions at law 1775-6. Three compartments in the upper part of the print show interiors labelled "Punch's Room" (left), "Secretaries Room", and "Agents Room" (right), shown as three adjacent rooms, visible by the removal of the fourth wall. The interior of the rooms is revealed by Truth, a naked woman on the extreme right. who holds up an enormous curtain which would screen all the rooms if it fell. Underneath these compartments are scenes taking place in the street outside and below these rooms. A broad gangway crowded with voters leads from the street-level to the central room. In "Punch's Room", a man dressed as Punch with a large hump and wearing a peaked hat and jack-boots stands on a stool putting a packet through a small opening in the partition dividing this room from the centre or "Secretaries Room". Behind him a stout man stands by a round table, apparently making up the packets for Punch; he holds a paper in both hands, and says, this "Note for 68 will make 3 votes". On the table are papers, a money-bag, and two piles of coins. At a rectangular table on the other side of the room (right) a man is seated, pouring out wine from a bottle; another man stands opposite him, holding a wine-glass and saying, "They swallow Pills well". At the back of the room are two wheelbarrows filled with money-bags, other money-bags lie on the floor. The room is quite bare except for tables, stool, and chair. The ceiling is raftered, there is a window in the left wall, and two hats hang on the wall. In the next room, a man stands on a chair facing the left wall and takes the packet which Punch is handing to him. Four birds, each with a coin (?) in its claws, appear to have just flown through the opening which is immediately above a padlocked door of communication. Behind him stands another elector, his hat in both hands, looking up at the opening. Two other men stand by, one holding a long staff. Two men sit at a round table; one with a large hump is writing; the other is in conversation with two men, one holding a paper, the other, holding his hat, appears to be making a request. Two hats hang on the wall. On the back wall hangs a large framed picture over which is inscribed "We'll purchase Europe". It represents an Indian scene: a corpulent man sits on a canopied howdah on an elephant; he is crowned and holds a sceptre; money-bags are piled on both sides of the howdah; a mahout sits on the animal's neck. The elephant appears to be picking up money-bags from the ground with its trunk; an Indian in a turban who lies across these bags is being beaten and kicked by a European. In the third room, two men sit writing at a round table, one points to three supplicants, saying "Begone you Rogues you'll vote for Mortr" [Mortimer]. Of the three men whom he addresses, two stand hat in hand, the third hurries away putting on his hat and saying "Nothing for honest men". Another disappointed voter stands between the two men at the table, his hands clasped. The lower part of the print represents the street below the three rooms. On the left is a procession (left to right.) escorting Punch; in front walks a man carrying a flag inscribed "Punch & Rupees for ever". He is followed by six men with marrow-bones and cleavers, which they are striking together to produce the traditional election noise. All wear election favours in their hats, the men with the marrow-bones have aprons twisted round their waists and are probably butchers. Immediately behind them is Punch on horseback, with an immense hump on both back and chest, a conical hat and a frill round his neck. His face is covered by a net and he is saying "20 Guin[eas] for two Voices & one round Oath well swallowed". He is accompanied and followed by a number of electors who wave their hats. In the centre is a sloping platform leading up to the "Secretaries Room". A boy with a long staff stands on the right. saying, "None but Voters come in". A crowd of men stand upon it in conversation. In the centre is a woman who says "My three tenants shall have more than 60". A hunch-backed man on the left says, "I shall discover their Schemes." On the right. are steps giving access to the right. side of the gangway. A balustrade divides the open front of the Agents' room from the street, and is continued down the right. side of the gangway and by the side of the steps. Two men are mounting the steps; in the road below two men, hat in hand, are in conversation with a third, who appears to be the candidate; he grasps one of them by the hand, placing his hand on his shoulder. On the back of the print is pasted a press cutting from the 'London Chronicle' (1776) "A card with the Figure of punch holding a Paper with the under-written Lines, was lately sent to the present Mayor of S------y. With empty bags, and without noise or drum, In woful plight, behold, I'm once more come, Humbly to crave your Worship's kind protection, From threat'ning evils of the last Election: In justice guard me from your folly past, If 'tis your first, I trust, 'twill be your last: Though I was PUNCH, behind the Scene convey'd, You, and your Friends the magic wire play'd.' Your's, PUNCH.""--British Museum online catalogue