"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 and 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
Alternative Title:
Assess'd taxes and Assessed taxes
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Richard Newton in the British Museum catalogue., and If etched by Newton, it must be after the design of someone else, possibly Woodward. See Alexander, D. Richard Newton and English caricature in the 1790s,
Caption title., At the foot of the page: Copied from the Telegraph, Thursday January 29, 1795., Satire on William Pitt., Publisher R. Lee from other imprints at this address and sign., and Imperfect: imprint shaved at foot with loss. For further information, consult library staff.
Publisher:
And sold at the Tree of Liberty, No. 2, St. Ann’s Court, Dean Street, Soho
