John Bull sits on a hard chair by the fire smoking a long clay pipe. Over the mantlepiece hangs a placard reading 'Free Trade'. A Frenchman (?) enters, greets him and sits down. A sea captain (Germany?) comes in followed by a Russian trader. An American enters dressed in brightly striped trousers and hat. All the chairs are taken and the four men talk among themselves. John Bull is left standing. A colonial man comes in carrying a large white card. John Bull explains to him the lack of chairs. The man shows him the card, which carries a picture of Joseph Chamberlain. The colonial pushes past the seated men and snatches down the placard. In its place he pins the card with the words 'Fair Trade'. The other men look astounded.