London's conduct stands the test, or, Bristol & Nottingham weighed in the balance & found light with the sketch of a M-l Forge, and the Worcester Magician / [graphic]

"Satire on differences among parliamentary constituencies instructing their members variously to insist on an investigation into the conduct of Robert Walpole's administration, or to desist and to support new government measures. In a large compartment at the top, a balance hangs from the ceiling in which a glove representing the challenge from the City of London to allow the investigation outweighs two men representing Bristol and Nottingham who oppose it. The City challenge is supported by members for Stafford, Dorset, Edinburgh, York and Westminster, standing to left, while behind them the old Tory Opposition now supporting City interests; in the centre, City tradesmen wave their hats and cheer. On the right, a servant pulls down on the scale containing Bristol and Nottingham, turning back to answer a group of unhappy government double-faced supporters. In the centre foreground, a large dog urinates on two small dogs; on the wall behind, a picture of Liberty or Britannia on the left, is juxtaposed with one, on the right, showing a man chained by the foot to a block. In the compartment at lower left, "A M[inisteria]l Forge", a blacksmith stands at an anvil hammering out the "Lie of the day". Ready-forged lies hang on the wall, "Hanov[er] Spurs", "Party Scissars", "Debt Bridles", "Tax Skrens" (a mistake for screws), "State Forks", "Law Pincers", "Eccles[iastical] Hooks", "Parl[iamentary] Bars" and "Session Fetters". On the right, an assistant hands two journalists, "Representat[ion]" and Art[icle] ag[ains]t West[minste]r" saying "to be every day in the Gazetteer", to which the journalists reply, "I want a Hook for Bristol" and "this is fit for Nottingham". On the left, a man pumps the bellows at the forge; a monkey on the beam, cries, "my Guts are coming out" as it defecates papers labelled, "Repres[entation]", "Gazetteer", "False Return", "Indict[ment]" and "Season Export". A man sits on a latrine labelled, "T[reasur]y Bog house/Repres[entations] Bristol/Repres[entations] Notting[ha]m", saying "I'll do thir Business for them" and writing on a paper headed "West[minste]r". In the compartment at lower right, "The Worcester Magician", a large fool stands in the centre, saying "Alls done in my Name, ha! ha! Am n't I a clever fellow", another fool standing at a table to left weighs "Instructions" and "Cringes", the latter brought in a basket by a servant; to right, an official holds out a purse and with his staff splits, "in the name of Corruption", a double-headed figure representing Samuel Sandys and Thomas Winnington, the two members of parliament for Worcester, one holding out "Cringes" and saying "I obey your Wand", the other, holding "Instructions" and exclaiming, "Delicate Guardians!"."--British Museum online catalogue