Engraving (coloured impression) by Isaac Cruikshank. Tom Paine, Sheridan and Whitbread as conspirators and incendiaries wear hooded cloaks and slouch hats, Paine (left), a bare-legged sans-culotte with ragged shirt, kneels on one knee, holding a torch to a pair of breeches (his own) stuffed with straw which he is putting under the floor, a plank having been removed. He says, "Now for a Deed that shall outdo my Pen". Sheridan bends forward in profile to the left, holding a dark lantern; he says, "Ca ira, Ca ira, Ca ira, thats your sort, now Master brown bread D--mn--n to Scandel". He addresses Whitbread, who stands behind him, full face, hands clasped, with an expression of terror. He says, "I am Cursedly affraid, we shall kindle such a flame as will bury is in the ruins, I'd be very Glad to treat them with as many Butts of Brown Stout as would reach from here to Windsor to wash my name out of the Association oh. Lord. lighten our Darkness". They stand on a landing between two flights of stairs, one (left) ascending, one (right) descending; Whitbread stands just below the landing on the extreme right. On 9 May the House of Commons escaped being burnt: a pair of smoldering breeches had been thrust under the ceiling of a closet; this filled the lobby with smoke, and the burning breeches were discovered. 'Lond. Chronicle', 12 May 1792. The 'Association' of which Whitbread speaks is the Friends of the People, formed to promote parliamentary reform. See Lord Holland's 'Memoirs of the Whig party', i. 13-15; 'Lady Holland's Journal', i. 101-2, Reproduced, 'Social England', ed. Traill, 1904, v. 666. Partial description from Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires Vol. VI. 8087.