Artist: Charles Williams. Published: S. W. Fores. Above the design as an alternative title: 'A Messenger from the House'. Melville sits (left) in an armchair, terrified at a monstrous vision; he exclaims: "Mercy on me!! Wha wants me?"(For this Edinburgh street cry). He wears Highland dress; at his feet is an open book: 'Henry VIII Act 5' (like Fox in 1782, and Thurlow in 1792, he is compared to Wolsey). A monster rises through the floor surrounded by smoke and flames. In his right. hand he holds up a headsman's axe dripping blood, in the left. a rope; he glares fiercely at Melville, saying, "He that maketh a Law and breaketh it-----." From his neck hangs a large scroll, covering his body, inscribed: 'An Act Entitled - Thou shalt Not make use of the Public Money for thine Own Private Emolument.' On the creature's head is a triple tiara: at the summit a royal crown, below this 'Lords', and at the base 'Commons'. Description from the British Museum.