"John Bull, blind, maimed, and ragged, walks (right to left) near a chasm, the edge of which stretches across the foreground of the design. His wooden right arm terminates in a hook to which is attached a cord from the collar of a lean greyhound with the head of Pitt (as in BMSat 8794). Pitt drags him forward and slightly towards the gulf; in his mouth is a large bare bone, his collar is inscribed 'Licenc'd to Lead'. In John Bull's left hand is a staff, on his back a burden inscribed 'Loans'. He has a wooden leg, which a dog with the head of Sheridan and a collar inscribed 'Licenc'd to Bite' is biting savagely. Behind and on the extreme right is a dog with the head of Grey, and a collar inscribed 'Grey Hound'; he bites John Bull's coat. Fox, a mastiff with a fox's brush, stands behind Pitt, glaring fiercely, on his collar is 'Licenc'd to Bark'. Behind is grass and a tree (left) and in the distance the roofs and spires of London, showing St. Paul's."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
John Bull and his dog Faithful
Description:
A satire on a Dog Tax, April 1796., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Grey, Charles Grey,--Earl,--1764-1845--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., and St. Paul's Cathedral (London, England),--depicted.
Subject (Topic):
Artificial limbs., Blindness., Debt., Dogs., John Bull (Symbolic character)--Caricatures and cartoons., People with disabilities. , and Taxation of personal property--Great Britain.
"Pitt (right) stands stiffly in profile to the left, holding open a large sack-like wallet inscribed 'Requisition Budget'. He addresses John Bull, the central figure, a stout yokel, who holds out his breeches in his left hand to Pitt, while he touches his hat. The budget and the breeches pockets are full of guineas. Pitt says: "More Money, John! - more Money! to defend you from the Bloody, the Cannibal French - They're a coming! - why they'll Strip you to the very Skin - more Money. John! - They're a coming - They're a coming." Dundas, Grenville, and Burke kneel on the right, bending towards the 'Budget', each with his left hand in an opening in a vertical seam, eagerly grabbing guineas. Behind them is the stone archway of the 'Treasury', with its high spiked gate. Dundas, the most prominent, wears Highland dress and holds a Scots cap full of coins. Grenville wears a peer's robe; Burke is behind. They echo Pitt: Dundas says "Ay! Ay! They're a coming! They're a coming!" Grenville: "Yes! Yes, They're a coming." Burke: "Ay They're a coming." John says: " - a coming? - are they? - nay then, take all I've got, at once, Measter Billy! - vor its much better for I to ge ye all I have in the World to save my Bacon, - than to stay & be Strip'd stark naked by Charley, & the plundering French Invasioners, as you say". His coat and waistcoat are sound, but the pockets hang inside out, empty. His lank hair, knotted kerchief, and wrinkled gaiters denote the small farmer. Behind (left), on the shore, stands Fox looking across the water towards the fortress of 'Brest' flying a tricolour flag. He hails it with upraised arms, shouting: "What! more Money ? - O the Aristocrat Plunderer! - Vite Citoyens! - vite! - vite! depechez vous! - or we shall be too late to come inn for any Snacks of the I'argant! - vite Citoyens! vite! vite!""--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
John Bull giving his breeches to save his bacon
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burke, Edmund,--1729-1797--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville,--Baron,--1759-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., and Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character)--Caricatures and cartoons.