"Beneath the title: 'Description. A Priest driven out of his Chapel, A French Soldier trampling on Crucifixes & Mitres, another kicking the Priest, a Gracefull Old Man; & a third stabbing him with a Dagger behind: A "Membre de la haute Cour de Justice" (in English a Member of the high Court of Justice, in his habit of Office, who has learnt to speak the English Language well, by going much to the Play-House, (having been long a Player himself,) says in the words of Othello - "Good, \ "very Good, the Justice, of it pleases, even on the \ "Stage of his own Imposition," - and it is \ "thus, that, the Gratitude of the French Republic "always pays Three Favours for One." - ' [Dalrymple, op. cit., p. 37.] Two ferocious soldiers wearing jack-boots pull and push the priest (in lace-trimmed cotta) from the door of a gothic church (right). A third jumps on a Bible and crucifix, part of a pile of crosier, mitre, chalice, censer (still burning), &c. On the cross which surmounts the door is a Phrygian cap of 'Liberté'. From a niche inscribed 'Ecce Homo' a crucifix has been torn, leaving only a crown of thorns and a skull and cross-bones. In the corresponding niche is a headless figure of 'Santè Marie', clasping a headless infant, burlesqued (in Gillray's manner when dealing with emblems of 'Popery', cf. BMSat 6026). On the left the 'Member of the high-court' walks past with folded arms, looking sideways with a sinister glare at the outrage. He wears the draperies and cap of BMSat 9209."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Consequences of a successfull French invasion ; no. VI, plate 1st
Description:
"Price 6 d. Colourd. 1 sh. / 8 d.", Title etched below image., and With: Gillray, J. "We come to recover your long lost liberties": scene, the House of Commons. London: Pubd. March 1st, 1798, by Js. Gillray, 27 St. James's Street, [1 March 1798].