The only booth in the fair- Portland & co late Shelburne (BM 1868,0808.4972)

A stage in front of a show booth, in the upper part of the design; below, spectators are gazing up at the performance. On a stair leading up to the stage (right) stands Shelburne, leaning on the bar across the front of the platform, and pointing at North who stands on the stage, ladling out guineas to Fox, who appears (left) looking over a barrier in which is a slit inscribed "American Letter Box". Fox, who has a human face and the body of a fox, is wearing a fool's cap inscribed "Vox Populi". His fore-paws rest on the barrier, his hind-paws and the end of his brush appear through a semicircular aperture at the bottom of the barrier. He is represented as a performing animal at a fair. North holds in his right hand a receptacle filled with guineas inscribed "Treasury Bucket". With an insinuating expression he holds out to Fox a large ladle filled with guineas, inscribed "Coalition Pay".
Through a door, inscribed "Treasury", at the back of the platform (right), the head and outstretched left arm of Portland appear. He is saying "Charly now you have Baul'd Enough come round the Back way to Portland". Shelburne, standing on the step, holding a money-bag in his right hand, points at North, saying, "A man may smile & be a Villian [sic] at least its so in England". Shelburne himself has the half-closed eyes and sly smile with which he is usually drawn.
In front of the platform is inscribed "Tricks on the Cards by the Noted Charly with many New Shuffles by the Rest of the Company". The heads and shoulders of seven spectators gazing up at the platform fill the lower part of the design. 9 April 1783

Etching