"Pitt runs forward (left to right) to the waterside, a large sabre raised above his head, saying, "The Russian trade down the first"; he threatens a number of stranded ships with broken masts. The blade of his sabre is inscribed: 'General War in Europe. Hartzberg Cutler Berlin'. In his left hand he holds up a paper: 'Responsibility Unpd Debts £20,00000 Ditto 3000000 New Taxes . . . Taxes'. Above him is a scroll inscribed: 'Under the Protection of the Commercial Treaty with France [see British Museum satires no. 6995], or by the Armed Neutrality improved Trade of Russia carried by French bottoms'. On the right a man stands on a quay inscribed 'Company of Russia Kay to be let'; he raises in both hands a headsman's axe, inscribed 'Hard Steel badly temper'd, to smite the masts of the ships below him', saying, "Down with it [ ? or its] Poland its as well Vengeance". Above his head, rays issuing from the upper right corner of the design, inscribed 'Remote fate, no more wars M--rs [Ministers] ultimatum', impinge on a semi-circle of cloud inscribed Confidence. On this stand five tiny gibbets, each with its pendent body. On the horizon is the open sea, on which are four French ships in full sail, the nearest flying a tricolour flag inscribed 'la Nation la loi le Roi'. On the left, next Pitt, stands Thurlow, holding against his left shoulder the mace, which is labelled 'Prerogative' and 'by G--d' (cf. British Museum satires no. 7320). In his right hand is a paper: 'Law Authorities for rendering defensive treatys ofensive'. His Chancellor's wig, over which is inscribed 'Geographical Knowledge', is divided into small sections, each inscribed with the name of a place: immediately surrounding his face are six portions each inscribed 'Russia'; on his nose is 'Poland'; above his forehead is 'England'. Other places in juxtaposition are 'Oczakow', 'Isle of Dogs', 'Botany Bay', 'Persia', 'Jordaine', 'Terras incognitas', 'Turin', 'Constantinople', and 'Antwerp', 'China', 'Swisserland', 'Africa', 'Nootka', 'Germany', 'Jerusalem', 'Paris', 'Pekin', 'Patagonia', 'France'. In the background on the extreme left is a building: 'National Assembly', with the cap of Liberty surmounting a tricolour flag inscribed 'French liberty benefitted by the blunders from the English M--r'. From the door issues a label inscribed 'oui oui une adresse de tanks a Mr P--t'. From the Assembly walk two kings, France and Spain; they say (pointing to Pitt): "How he plays our game" and "Bravo! bravo! bravo!""--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched above image., Printmaker identified as Frederick George Byron in dealer's description., Text below image: Inscribed to The Russian Company by their customers, the ship builders, sail makers, rope makers and other contemptible trades that contribute to the prosperity of Old England., Publisher's advertisement at bottom of plate: In Hollands Exhibition Rooms may be seen the larges [sic] collection in Europe of caricatures, admitce. one shilling., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on top and bottom edges., Mounted in modern matte: 36 x 49 cm., and Watermark: J. Taylor.
Publisher:
Pubd. by Wm. Holland, No. 50 Oxford St.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and Russia
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806, Charles IV, King of Spain, 1748-1819, Louis XVI, King of France, 1754-1793, and Hertzberg, Ewald Friedrich, Graf von, 1725-1795
