Contributing to the Sinking Fund (BM 1868,0808.6176)

George III and Queen Charlotte face each other in profile across a small round breakfast-table. Each holds a cup and saucer in one hand, a muffin in the other, eating ravenously. Each is seated on a close-stool. Opposite each is a large pile of muffins. The King (left) says, "Very nice Muffins upon my honor! very nice Muffins indeed! The man's name was Matthew Muffin that invented these nice things, my love. There's Dick Lollypop, old Q's groom, it was his father invented the Lollypops. Let me alone for a good anecdote, or Bon Mot. My Second Volume of the Festival of Wit sells astonishingly I am told: a great number of good things in that little book, Charley, they should be called Lollypops of Wit!!! Very good that, very good indeed!" The Queen answers, "He that invented Muffins was a German my love, the Germans are all people of genius! They are very unwholesome I am told and in a little time they puff one up like a bladder!" (Cf. BMSat 7923.)
The Queen is more caricatured than the King, who wears old-fashioned dress without the ribbon of the Garter, but with a garter inscribed 'Honi Soit Sir - ' On the table is a large urn decorated with the Royal Anns (burlesqued) and with satyrs. 3 April 1792

Etching with hand-colouring