More visitors to John Bull, or, The assess'd taxes!!! [graphic].

"John Bull (right) stands in profile to the left, gaping in terror at four little demons, grotesque, naked, and senile, who approach him with calculating and complacent grins. His knees bend, his hands are thrust in his coat pockets; he says: "What do you want you little Devils - an't I plagued with enough of you already more pick poket Work, I suppose!!" Their leader stands forward with a mock deprecatory gesture; the next demon holds a large book. They say: "Please your Honor we are the assess'd Taxes.""--British Museum online catalogue

A satire on the tripling of the assessed taxes proposed by Pitt in his famous budget speech, 24 Nov. 1797. These were taxes on persons according to their expenditure (inhabited houses, male servants, carriages, &c.); it was an attempt at direct taxation, heavily graduated to tax the rich at a higher (five-fold) rate and with exemptions and abatements for small incomes. This was Pitt's 'plan of finance' to support the war without recourse to loans, intended to demonstrate to Europe England's determination and unity: 'to check a little the presumptions of Jacobins at home and abroad.' ... See British Museum online catalogue