"Leaders of the Opposition (left) turn a windlass which drags towards the shore a fantastic and enormous raft laden with French troops. They push against horizontal levers which pass through the broad centre-post on which the rope is wound; on the top of this Lauderdale, in Highland dress and on a smaller scale than the others, plays the bagpipes, from which issue the words: 'Over the Water & over the Sea, And over the Raft to Charlie.' He capers to his tune; a tricolour flag flies from his instrument. The most prominent figure is Fox, advancing full-face, and looking to the raft with a satisfied smile; he says, "Pull away Citizens". Behind him, the rope between them, is Bedford in riding-dress; under his arm is a book: 'Bedford on Agriculter' (cf. BMSat 8648). Opposite Fox is Tierney, saying, "We must take care to keep clear of the Rope". From his pocket hangs a paper: 'Borough Influence' (he was M.P. for Southwark, 'the Borough', cf. BMSat 9045). Sheridan, pushing hard in profile to the left, says: "Ah! The Rope We must avoid it if possible". Norfolk, on the extreme left, puts a hand on Tierney's lever; he says: "Hark Ther's a Storm coming. I hear Thunder." They walk on a circular track by the edge of a cliff. On the ground is a large open book: 'President of the Directory CIF. [Fox] Deputy a Bedfordshire Bull [cf. BMSat 8684]'. On it lies a 'Norfolk Cheese'. Behind (left) is a gallows inscribed 'Tierney' (almost obliterated) from which hangs a corpse. In the background is a hill on the summit of which is an encampment with massed troops flying the British flag. The raft nears the shore but is about to be overwhelmed by vast waves blown up by blasts from the mouths of Dundas, the King, and Pitt, whose heads emerge from dark clouds. Dundas, in profile to the left, aims his blast at the windlass; in it (right to left) are the names: 'Jack Ketch'; 'Addington, Bond, Staples [Bow Street justices]'; 'Macnamara Fugion, Macmanus, Townsend, Jelous' [Bow Street officers or 'runners']. The King and Pitt aim directly at the raft; from the mouth of the former (full-face) issue the names 'St Vincent, Pasley, Duncan, Pellew, Nelson'; from that of Pitt (in profile to the right): 'Trollope, Thomson, Bridport, Onslow, Pringle'. In the centre of the raft is a massive fortress manned with troops; from it flies a huge tricolour flag inscribed 'Liberty and Equality'. The fort is surrounded by tents; outside there are soldiers in close formation with bayonets. The outer edge is flanked by turrets, each having a (tricolour) flag inscribed: 'Plunder'; 'Regecides Paricides'; 'Deism Atheism'; 'Robbery'; 'Murder & Ravishmt'; 'Torture'; 'Blood & Rapine'; 'Cruelty & lust'; 'Barbar[ity]'. The motive force is given by wheels worked by windmills, and by large oars. In the bows is a guillotine surmounted by a bonnet-rouge; another guillotine decorates the stern. Behind the raft (left) advance ships of war. In the foreground, flying over the agitated sea like stormy petrels, are three winged heads (right to left): Erskine, Stanhope, and (?) Thelwall. Lauderdale, Fox, Sheridan, Norfolk, and Stanhope wear bonnets-rouges."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Republican crew disappointed
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Bedford, Francis Russell,--Duke of,--1765-1802--Caricatures and cartoons., Erskine, Thomas Erskine,--Baron,--1750-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Fores, S. W., publisher., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., George--III,--King of Great Britain,--1738-1820--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Lauderdale, James Maitland,--Earl of,--1759-1839--Caricatures and cartoons., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Norfolk, Charles Howard,--Duke of,--1746-1815--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Stanhope, Charles Stanhope,--Earl,--1753-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Thelwall, John,--1764-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., and Tierney, George,--1761-1830--Caricatures and cartoons.
"The windlass (right) is turned by Bedford, in profile to the left, Fox, in back view but looking to the raft (left), Sheridan, in profile to the right, and Tierney, coming towards the spectator. From Bedford's pocket hangs a paper: '£1400 Fined, for False Entry of Servants'. All are running, but it is clear that huge waves raised by Pitt will swamp the raft before it reaches shore. All wear coats except Fox, whose coat lies on the ground beside a paper: 'List of the New Republican Ministry. Citizen Volpone, Premier..'.. Fox's shirt is tattered, his hair is tied by a tricolour ribbon. Pitt's profile emerges from clouds in the upper (right) corner; his blast spreads as it reaches the raft, developing into flashes of lightning ..."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Republican flotilla in danger
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Bedford, Francis Russell,--Duke of,--1765-1802--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., 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 Tierney, George,--1761-1830--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Round a bare and decayed oak-tree is twined a serpent with the head of Fox; he has scaly arms with human hands and holds out a damaged apple inscribed 'Reform', saying, "nice Apple, Johnny! - nice Apple". John Bull (left) is a fat and squat yokel, wearing the Windsor uniform of blue coat with red collar and cuffs. The pockets of his coat and waistcoat bulge with round golden apples. His back is to Fox, towards whom he looks out of the corners of his eyes, saying: "Very nice N'apple indeed! - but my Pokes are all full of Pippins from off t'other Tree: & besides, I hates Medlars, they're so domn'd rotten! that I'se afraid they'll gie me the Guts-ach for all their vine looks!" Fox's scaly tail is coiled round the upper branches; its tip issues from a large cap of 'Liberté', decorated with tricolour cockade and ribbons, which is poised on a branch. The trunk of the tree is 'Opposition'; its roots are: 'Envy', 'Ambition', 'Disappointment'. The main branches are 'Rights of Man' (see BMSat 7867, &c.) and 'Profligacy'. Each rotten apple or medlar has an inscription: 'Democracy.', 'Treason.', 'Slavery.', 'Atheism.', 'Blasphemy.', 'Plunder.', 'Murder.', 'Whig Club', 'Impiety', 'Revolution', 'Conspiracy', 'Corresponding Society', 'Deism', 'Age of Reason' (Paine's deistic book). In the background (right) is an oak in full leaf: its trunk is 'Justice', the roots 'Commons', 'King', 'Lords', the branches 'Laws' and 'Religion'. From it hangs a crown surrounded by 'pippins', some inscribed 'Freedom', 'Happiness', 'Security'. (Cf. BMSat 8287, &c.)."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character)--Caricatures and cartoons.