An English hobby horse, or, Who pays the piper?Byron, Frederick George Byron, printmaker[11 May 1791]eng"A bull (John Bull) in profile to the right sinks, snorting with distress, under the weight of five persons. The foremost, astride the animal s neck, is the Emperor Leopold; he holds the legs of Catherine II, a stout virago, who sits on his shoulders, brandishing her orb and sceptre. She says, "Where's all your boasting now my old Bull! by St George I knew I could bring you upon your knees! ay, and before I have done riding you I'll make you knock under." Behind Leopold sits George III, saying, "Don't mind, don't mind, don't mind [a parody of the King's manner of conversation], he'll soon recover, It's all sham, his stumbling". Frederick William of Prussia sits behind George III, wearing regimentals with jack-boots. Behind him sits a fat Dutchman (Holland) smoking a pipe. Behind, and on the left, is a group of three persons on a smaller scale. Pitt, in profile to the left, seizes by the collar a lean and ragged British citizen (John Bull), saying, "No grumbling, you rascal! You must pay the Piper to be sure. What the devil, surely you couldn't expect the great folks that represent you to contribute a shilling! Besides you are a damn'd saucy fellow, master Bull, and you must be tam'd." Bull answers, "Tam'd: why, good God, Sir, I have scarcely a morsel of bread to eat, and even the Small Beer is Tax'd above my purchase!" On the extreme left a lean man kneels, blowing a trumpet and looking up at Pitt; he is perhaps an ironical representation of Fame."--British Museum online catalogueSheet trimmed within plate mark resulting in loss of title, imprint and publisher's advertisement. Title and publication information from British Museum catalogue.Formerly attributed to H.W. (that is, either Henry Wigstead or William Holland), in the British Museum catalogue. Now thought to be a print by Frederick George Byron.Temporary local subject terms: Allusion to Russian Armament -- Bulls -- Crowns -- Scepters -- Walking staves -- Musicians: pipers -- Musical instruments: pipes -- Smoking pipes -- Holland.