File:The Present Age, 1767 (BM 1868,0808.4400).jpg

English: Satire on fashionable life described in a sub-title as "Address'd to the Professors of Driving, Dressing, Ogling, Writing, Playing, Gambling, Racing, Dancing, Duelling, Boxing, Swearing, Humming, Building, &c. &c. &c." with broad space flanked by large buildings leading down to the sea. On the left, "The Academy for the Noble Art of Boxing NB Mufflers provided for delicate Constitutions" through the windows of which a pugilist can be seen addressing a yong nobleman, and two men boxing. Beside this a theatre into which a large crowd enters via a staircase, encouraged by a zany standing on a balcony with three actresses, two actors wearing turbans and another dressed as a soldier; the sign above refers to notorious hoaxes of the earlier part of the century: "Britannia Humm'd Or the Tragedy of the Secret Expedition [presumably the Expedition on Rochefort, 1757], A Mock Tragedy to which is added a Farce call'd The Pregnant Rabit Woman [i.e., Mary Toft], Together with the Adventures of the Bottle Conjurer [see BM Satires 3022, 1868,0808.3875], and Polish Jew [Henry Simons]. As likewise the taking ye Standard at the Battle of Dittingen." The next house is built in a variety of styles; beyond, the sea the sun rises "for the Vigilant". In the foreground fashionable people are shown as described in a key below: 1. "British Nobility disguis'd", three women dressed in French style in an open carriage are bowed to by 2. a foppish young man "Return'd from the Polite Tour"; behind him 3. "Foreign Insolence [is] express'd by the French Valet de Chambre daring to Insult 4. English Bravery in Distress [an old sailor with a wooden leg], reduc'd to ask Alms in his Native Country, after having courageously lost his limbs in Defence of it on board a Privateer & unjustly kept out of his Prize-money"; next is 5. "The Optical Ogle, or polite Curiosity", a young gentleman peering at the women in the carriage through an eye-glass; 6. "An Author", a miserable gentleman with his hands tucked into the breast of his coat who is barked at by two dogs; by contrast, 7. "A Player" reclines comfortably in a sedan chair, a footman walking before him; 8. describes a scene at the door of the house on the right, "The Industrious Tradesman thrust off with Contempt, expecting a just Debt to be paid, to make room for a high Life Gambler [also in a sedan chair], politely usher'd in to receive his Debt of Honour"; behind this group is, 9. "A Feather of the Turf", a man mounted on a high gig drives two horses, and 10. "The Balance of Merit in this happy Climate for useless Exotics, [where] A French Dancing Master obtains 300£ pr. Ann. & a clear Benefit worth near 300£ more, while the Ingenious English Shipwright, tho' Assistant to the Honour Profit & Defence of his Country, by hard Labour barely obtains 40£ pr. Ann."; on the left, 11. a hearse drives into the scene with "The Corps[e] of a Blood, conveying to Interment, who boldly lost his Life in a Duel defending the Reputation of a Prostitute"; 12. is the house beside the sea, "Modern Architecture The Corinthian, Venetian, Gothic & Chinese huddled in one Front,"; 13. an old woman leaning out of an upper window calling to a woman and two men at the door represents "Modern Hospitality in the Character of Old Age, left to take care of Furniture, & answer Duns that the Family is in the Country"; 14. fishing boats at sea are reminders that "One British Buss [fishing boat] of more service to the Community than ten Italian Singers". 1767
Etching and engraving