a social satire on the scandalous elopement of the wife of Sir Jacob Astley, proprietor of Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre, and Thomas Garth, where she is depicted descending a rope ladder from a balcony where her children plead with her not to go. He stands below, inviting her into his ‘R___l’ arms, alluding to another scandal, that he was the son of Princess Sophia, daughter of George III, and General Garth. A coach and horses waits in the background across a wide cobbled street,
etching with original hand-colouring, within a grey wash border, 350 x 250 mm. (13 3/4 x 9 7/8 in), two repaired tears into the image, the sheet lined with Japan tissue, [BM Satires15166],