It was, possibly, as some recompense for its author’s gallant defence of their most powerful weapon that the ladies helped to swell the tide of prosperity of the _Beggar’s Opera_, produced in November of this same year (1727). Fans were carried illustrating the favourite songs of the piece, which enjoyed its successful run of sixty-three nights, ‘making Gay rich and Rich gay.’ The defeat and withdrawal of Sir Robert Walpole’s excise scheme provided the occasion for many satires which appeared during the year 1733. In these Walpole is represented as an itinerant quack doctor, and as an exciseman, in which latter character he was hanged and burned in effigy on April 12th of the same year. In the fan a comparison is drawn between Walpole and Wolsey, and on a medallion portrait of the last named is inscribed: ‘Wolsey and his Successor here in one behold. Both serv’d their masters, both their Country Sold.’ A figure is seen walking in a garden with two papers in his hands, the one inscribed, ‘Liberty and Property,’ and the other, ‘No Dutch Politicks. Down with the Excise.’ In the mid-distance a figure holds a purse and draws attention to the portrait of Wolsey. Two barrels are figured in the foreground, together with the Excise Monster in the throes of death, on the body of which are inscribed the various articles affected, as Printing, Salt, Malt, Gin, etc. The print has apparently been cut down, and evidently forms part of a design or series of designs. M. Gamble advertises as follows in the _Craftsman_ of June 9, 1733:— ‘This day is published for all Loyal Ladies, an Excise Fan; or the Political Monster as described in _Fog’s Journal_, May the 5th, curiously delineated, Being a Memorial for Posterity. In this most agreeable fan is represented: I. A Picture of Cardinal Wolsey (the first Excise Master of England) done from an original Painting. II. A view of his Feats on one Hand, and those of his Successor on the other. III. An English Lawyer with two honest Briefs. IV. The famous Monster-Monger, Ferdinando Ferdinandi, drawn to the Life. V. The Death of the Excise Monster. VI. A modern Inquisition with an Assembly of Merry Spectators (as Vintners, Tobacconist, etc.) of Ferdinando’s Lamentation over his departed Beast. ‘Now! ‘Tis in the Power of every British Fair To turn Excises of all kinds to Air.’ ‘Sold by M. Gamble at the Golden Fan in St. Martin’s Court near Leicester Fields. Price 2s. 6d.’ On August 25 of the same year, M. Gamble again advertises the fan and adds:— ‘This is the Fan mentioned in the _London Magazine_; it will be very useful at all meetings for nominating Members of Parliament, not only for cooling the Heats which may arise, but to show the nature of an arbitrary Monster. ‘Now is the Time when every British Fair May turn Excises of all kinds to air.’