Loyal souls; -or- a peep into the mess-room, at St James's.

Size 37cm x 27cm

Originally published by Hannah Humphrey etched by James Gillray from 'The Genuine Works of James Gillray, engraved by himself. Thomas McLean edition on heavy rag-paper from the original copper plates printed 1830.

Fifteen officers sit round a roughly made table on which are decanters and fruit. A stout officer (? Captain Dottin [Identification on print. Abel Rous Dottin was captain in the and Life Guards. 'Army List', 1797.]) right, in an arm-chair, gives the toast 'The King', all raise their glasses with varying expressions. The Duke of York, spilling his wine, looks tipsily towards Dottin. Only one man stands, straddling across the seat of his chair, a decanter of 'Tokay' in his left hand. Captain Birch, [James Birch was lieutenant in the First Life Guards, Thomas Birch a captain in the Sixteenth Light Dragoons sits on the Duke's left. The officer on the extreme left, looking down slyly, resembles General Davies. Next him, a very fat officer is smoking a pipe, a paper of tobacco on the table in front of him, a bottle of 'Gin' under his chair. The third profile from the left resembles that of Prince William of Gloucester. Wright and Evans add Col. Jekyl: the profile on the extreme right has a family likeness to that of Joseph Jekyll, none resembles the Col. Jekyll. All wear cocked hats. The decanters or bottles on the table are labelled 'Champa[gne]', 'Claret', 'Burgundy'. Under the table are more bottles, and empty bottles lie on the ground, with broken glasses, a pineapple, and an orange. The floor is boarded and the table roughly made, but the chairs are ornate and decorated with ormolu. 14 November 1797