"The five commissioners (right) recently nominated to negotiate peace with the colonies, kneel one behind the other at the feet of America, who sits (left) on a pile of barrels and bales looking away from the Commissioners at a cap of liberty which she holds on a staff. She is a partly draped woman wearing a crown of feathers; her head is irradiated, and above it is suspended a laurel wreath. The bales and barrels on which she sits are inscribed "Tobacco for Germany"; "Rice for France"; "Tobacco for France"; "Tobacco for Holland"; "America 1778"; "Indico for Spain"; "Indico for the Mediterranean Ports, V.R." (Monogram.), cf. BMSat 5472, 5859, &c. The Commissioners are headed by Lord Howe in naval dress; he says, "We have block'd up your ports, obstructed your trade, with the hope of starving ye, & contrary to the Law of Nations compelld your sons to war against their Bretheren". Behind him is General Sir William Howe, wearing the red ribbon of the Bath; he says "We have ravaged your Lands, burnt your Towns, and caus'd your captive Heroes to perish, by Cold, pestilence & famine". Next is Lord Carlisle wearing the green ribbon of the Thistle; he says "We have profaned your places of Divine worship, derided your virtue and piety, and scoff'd at that spirit which has brought us thus on our knees before ye". He is foppishly dressed and appears deeply interested in his snuff-box, cf. BMSat 5474. Behind him is William Eden (afterwards Lord Auckland) with a pen behind his ear; he says, "We have Ravish'd, Scalp'd, and murder'd your People, even from Tender infancy to decrepid age, altho Supplicating for Mercy", cf. BMSat 5470, &c. Last comes Commodore George Johnstone, known as Governor Johnstone, in naval dress; he is saying, "For all which material services, we the Commissioners from the most pious & best of sovereigns, doubt not your cordial duty & affection towards us, or willingness to submit yourselves again to receive the same, whenever we have power to bestow it on ye". The five swords of the Commissioners lie in a pile on the ground beside Carlisle. The words of the speakers are in long labels, numbered, as are the five Commissioners, to show by whom they are spoken."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item. and Trimmed within plate line.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 1, 1778 by M. Darly 39 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
United States, Great Britain, and America
Subject (Name):
Howe, William Howe, Viscount, 1729-1814., Howe, Richard Howe, Earl, 1726-1799., Carlisle, Frederick Howard, Earl of, 1748-1825., Auckland, William Eden, Baron, 1744-1814., and Johnstone, George, 1730-1787.
Subject (Topic):
History, Causes, Colonies, Economic policy, Clothing & dress, and Liberty cap
In a landscape with a town in the background, a zebra is shown facing left with the names of the 13 colonies engraved on its stripes. Behind the animal, George Grenville is about to put on its back a saddle labelled "Stamp Act." To the left, Lord North pulls at the reins, proclaiming "My name is Boreas the First; I hold the reins and will never quit them till the beast is subdued." On the right two men hold the tail, one a representative of France, the other in English military dress (probably depicting Washington) saying "My name is Fabius the Second, & the rudder is my hand." Behind North are the three commissioners, probably Johnstone, Carlisle, and Eden, lamenting that "Our offers are rejected, no terms but independence" etc
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted to 24 x 30 cm.
Publisher:
Printed for G. Johnson as the Act directs 3 Sept. 1778, and sold at all the printshops in London & Westminster
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, United States, America., and England
Subject (Name):
Carlisle, Frederick Howard, Earl of, 1748-1825., Johnstone, George, 1730-1787., Auckland, William Eden, Baron, 1744-1814., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Washington, George, 1732-1799., and Grenville, George, 1712-1770.
Subject (Topic):
Stamp act, 1765, Politics and government, History, Causes, Colonies, Clothing & dress, and Zebras
