Jack Robinson, as “Rat-catcher to Great Britain,” is equipped for his delicate task with a supply of baits, lures, and traps; round his waist is the “Cestus of Corruption,” in his pocket is a small aide-de-camp, who is made to exclaim, “We’ll ferret them out!” On his back is a double trap, baited with coronets and places; he is cautiously proceeding on all fours, along the Treasury floor, where “vermin” are “preserved;” the rats to be captured are toying with the gold laid down to attract them. To the nose of one veteran, whose face resembles the spectacled visage of Edmund Burke, is held a large bait of “pension,” which is regarded wistfully by other rats assembled. Under the heading of “Rats of Note,” a placard on the wall announces the list of political apostates who have been captured. No concealment was attempted, for we find in the pages of the _Morning Post and Daily Advertiser_, for February 10, 1784, an advertisement, under the simple heading of “Jack Robinson,” with a woodcut representing a string of rats, such as might preface a common rat-catcher’s announcement, giving the names of twenty-two parliamentary rats already decoyed from their party allegiance to go over to the good pickings the king was able to hold out. This curious notification is repeated on the Treasury wall, shown in Rowlandson’s pictorial view of the corruption abroad, as a preparation for the coming elections. The _dramatis personæ_ of the great performance at the Covent Garden hustings are exhibited as “The Rival Candidates:” “Themistocles,” Lord Hood; “Demosthenes,” Fox; “Judas Iscariot,” Sir Cecil Wray. [Illustration: HONEST SAM HOUSE, THE PATRIOTIC PUBLICAN, CANVASSER FOR FOX.] One of the most enthusiastic partisans of Fox, and second only to his fair friends, the ladies of the Whig aristocracy, in popular influence, was “Honest Sam House,” the publican, remarkable for his oddity and for his political zeal, who during the election not only canvassed with admirable tact, but throughout the contest kept open house at his own expense, and was honoured with the presence of many of the Whig aristocracy. “See the brave Sammy House, he’s as still as a mouse, And does canvass with prudence so clever: See what shoals with him flock, to poll for brave Fox, Give thanks to Sam House, boys, for ever, for ever, Give thanks to Sam House, boys, for ever! “Brave bald-headed Sam, all must own is the man, Who does canvass for brave Fox so clever; His aversion, I say, is to _small beer and Wray_! May his bald head be honour’d for ever, for ever! May his bald head be honour’d for ever!”