Loyalty against levelling [graphic]

"The left and wider portion of the design represents 'England', the right portion 'France'; two posts and the corners of two buildings meet along the dividing line. From each post a horizontal beam projects to support a signboard, in each case that of a crown. In England this is in place, and has the inscription 'Good Entertainment for Man & Horse'; two Frenchmen standing on the opposite side are pulling at the English sign with ropes. They stand on the sign of the (French) crown which has already been cut down. They are assisted by Tom Paine who sits astride the horizontal bar to saw it through, but leaves his saw in the wood to stare in terror at a large bill, posted on the house from which the sign projects, and inscribed: 'Association for preserving Liberty & Property against Republicans and Levellers Resolved. . . '. He exclaims, "Here's a Stop to my Levelling." He is dressed in a slovenly manner and from his pocket protrude 'D Priestley Sermon' (see British Museum Satires No. 7887, &c.) and 'Rights of Man' (see British Museum Satires Nos. 7867, 8137, &c). On the ground, and opposite the door of the Crown Inn, stand a sailor (left) and a soldier (right) who clasp hands; the sailor waves his hat, crying, "for our King and"; the soldier, who holds a musket, the butt end resting on the ground, adds "Country". Against the door is pasted a bill headed 'Proclamation' (see British Museum Satires No. 8095), and ending 'God save the King'. The rays of the sun dispel some dark clouds which surround Paine. In the background is a castle, flying a British flag, and the masts of ships. In front of them is a wall on which stands a small defiant British Lion. In France the sky is covered with heavy clouds. On the building are three large placards: [1] 'Liberté & Egalité Ca ira', [2] 'Mr Fox's Speech to the Vig Club Anglois', [3] 'Memorial of Cit Thos Paine to the Nation[al] Conven[tion]'. Beside the two men who pull at the English crown is a third Frenchman, a ragged sansculotte, who holds a pike on which is a head; he stands astride a recently decapitated body, shouting, "Vive la Nation." Behind him are the branches of a bare tree, inscribed 'L'arbre de la Liberte', from which hangs the body of a monk."--British Museum online catalogue