Elizabeth Gunning astride a cannon firing by the pen of her mother a blast of forged letters at the facade of Blenheim - which a figure defends with a blast of excrement - the Duchess of Bedford offers her petticoat as cover while General Gunning retreats from the battlefield; representing the Gunning scandal. Etching by J. Gillray, 1791.

Miss Gunning exlaims: "O mother! Mother! My mask'd battery is discovered, & we shall be blown up! O, mother, mother, we must raise the siege immediately, & take refuge under the Duchess's cover'd way, & there act on the defensive: O mother, mother, its all your fault, say what you will." Mrs Gunning replies: "Good heavens, who would have thought that the seige of a coronet would have ended in smoke & stink - well I'll take my affidavit that I know nothing at all about the matter." The Duchess offers: "Come under my protection, dearys; I'll hide you in Bedfordshire, & find one of my little Granny-boys to play with Missy." The General says: "I find our stratagem won't take effect, & therefore I'll be off, & menoevre - any common soldier can lead on, to an attack, but it requires the skill of a General to bring off his forces with honor after a defeat."