Gillray's caricature primarily focuses upon an old maid, depicted travelling from an inn set in the background, to a room set outside of the picture on the left. Illustrated in the distance through an open doorway on the right is the inn, with its sign featuring a cockrell standing upon a pair of breeches. The room which the old maid moves towards is called 'the Ram', noted from the sign above the open door on the far left of the image. Set to the left of the doorway is another entrance, with a plaque above inscribed with 'the Union'.
The central figure of the image is the old maid, shown in a bold green riding habit with a red and yellow collar. Her dress is ankle length, revealing her black shoes with red laces, and over her straw hat, she wears a red and yellow scarf. In her right hand, she holds a matching fan, and hanging from her small finger is a matching parasol. Under her left arm, the old maid holds onto a small, white dog, with its legs dangling uncomfortably. The expression on the dog's face is one of discontent, and it appears as though it is trying to wriggle itself free from the ghastly woman's embrace. Walking in profile, the old maid's twisted nose and buldging chin are greatly accentuated, and her rather blank expression suggests she has no concern for the dog.
The old maid is guided by the fat host, who stands to the far left of the composition. Wearing a brown overcoat over his orange waistcoat and breeches, the host raises his right arm from his side, and uses his thumb to direct the old maid towards her room. His wide-eyed expression suggests he is tense from the old maid's arrival.
The figure set to the immediate right of the old maid is a hugely overweight woman, with her back against the wall as she watches on at the old maid. She wears a white blouse with red detailing, and a yellow skirt, with a white apron over the top that features blue detailing. Over her head, she wears a white bonnet. Between her hands she holds a sheet of paper inscribed with 'Bill of Fare', suggesting that she works for the host.
The male figure walking behind the old maid, possibly a servant of hers or an employee of the host, carries her belongings. Under his left arm is an embroidery frame, and with his left hand, carries a green bag. Held under his right arm is a blue case. The frail, ageing man has thin, grey hair swept backwards, and his bright red nose protrudes rather grotesquely.
The man at the end of the procession, also seemingly transporting the old maid's belongings, holds a caged bird to his face. He whistles at the bird, whilst a cat set to the right claws at the cage, causing the bird to be startled.
It has previously been suggested that Gillray based his figure of the old maid on Sarah Sophia Banks. Banks was an important client of Gillray's, owning over a hundred prints of his, so it seems unlikely that Gillray would have ridiculed her.