2-692-976 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'A Very (Im)Pertinent Question.', 1830. Three men discuss politics. The man on the right says: 'I have just dropped in to ask you a little question. I want to know if you are really desirous to relieve the people by retrenchment and economy - why you don't begin by reducing your own salaries?' The other two respond with: 'Your question Sir, is a very impertinent question! and I take it to be exceedingly personal!', and 'What a very disagreeable question!' The title is a play on words - pertinent in the sense of important and relevant, and impertinent meaning rude.