St Stephen's Fair A fair, with the various booths representing political events and opinions. This analysis is adapted from BM Sat 10966. From left to right: Richard Brinsley Sheridan standing in front of a poster for 'The Comedy of a new Way to Pay Old Debts' by Massinger. Sheridan was satirized for humiliation at Westminster in 1806 when he claimed to be Fox's successor as a new man of the people and was instead called 'The ruin of hundreds of industrious Tradesmen and their innocent families'. Viscount Castlereagh in front of a poster for 'Two Strings to Your Bow', a farce by R Jephson from 1791, and 'A Trip to Down' and 'Down Down Hey Derry Down'. These refer to Castlereagh's loss of Co. Down in the election, and his second string, i.e. an seat in an English Borough, enabling him to sit in Parliament. Also Castlereagh had apparently used the expression 'string to ones bow' to refer to a paid office. Grenville, is on the centre booth, perhaps signifying his political position. Perceval is standing at the 'Only True Constitutional Booth', perhaps because of his efforts to reform election procedures. George Canning is on a booth announcing 'A COLLECTION OF SKY ROCKETS just arrived from DENMARK very curious.' He was attacked for his role in the bombardment of Copenhagen and capture of Danish fleet. Beneath Grenville's booth is 'Portland Stone moveable kitchen' The Duke of Portland by this stage very unwell, and seen as figurehead, not true leader of ministry. Beneath Perceval's platform is a reference to 'Bed of Roses'. On 3 Apr 1806 Castlereagh, in response to Windham's proposed Army reforms, had claimed that Government 'may be considered as on a Bed of Roses' - something which Fox refuted. Conversations in foreground refer to: Army commissions. It was the beginning of scandals of 1809 related to Duke of York and Army promotions. Sinecures. In Burdett's Address to Electors of Westminster on 25 May 1807 he promised to "tear out the accursed leaves of that scandalous red book"(containing a list of office holders). Reform. Related to the election campaign of Burdett. On the verso part of a lengthy anecdote has been written in ink. 8 Feb 1808