Three figures celebrate the actions of Admiral Keppel against the French on a precipice off which fall Sir Hugh Palliser who is pulled down by the rope of an old hag and the fire breath of the devil. Etching, ca. 1779.

The three figures at a table raise their glasses in celebration of the courageous actions of 'brave Keppel' and 'damn kin who wou'd stay to knot & splice whilst ye French are in sight' - '... the devil always betrays his friends & he has houd winked him at last'. An angel sounds a horn holding medallion images of 'A.K' (Augustus Keppel) and 'S.R.H' (Sir Robert Harland) who served under Keppel as commander of the channel fleet. Sir Charles Saunders and a blindfolded Admiral Byng stand in ditches to the right as Captain Hoad stands on the precipice holding a log book and 'letter in the morning post' as he watches Sir Hugh Palliser fall with the words 'Robust & harden'd as I am, I cannot save thy fall ... '. Palliser, holding a log book, is dragged down by a rope around his neck as he utters 'my fierce ambitious sould declining droops drag me not ye fiends I have a greater hell within than all thy master's tormentors can inflict ... '. The devil breathes fire on Palliser as he descends with the words 'I gaze with wonder never did I see a wretch so base so like myself as thee'. Palliser failed to obey Keppel's command during the battle of Ushant against the French on 27 July 1779. Palliser tried to court-martial Keppel for misconduct and neglect of duty but failed. Keppel's acquittal was viewed not only as a triumph of innocence over vice and fraud, but a triumph of the popular party over the unpopular ministry (namely Lord Sandwich who was seen to have played a part in the failure of the battle)