'Military leap-frog, or Hints to young Gentlemen'

Coloured etching after I Cruikshank. Published by S W Fores, 1807.

This caricature depicts Mary Anne Clarke, a mistress of the Duke of York, standing facing a procession of officers who leap towards her over the bent backs of three older and decrepit officers, to present her with bags of money. As Commander-in-Chief of the Army the Duke of York had considerable powers to appoint and promote officers. In 1809 a Parliamentary enquiry established that Clarke had been accepting money for promising to use her influence with him to promote various individuals. There was no evidence that the Duke was involved in these transactions, but the scandal forced him to resign temporarily as Commander-in-Chief.