"Three men sit, singing a catch, with a round table between them. A British officer (perhaps Cotton), wearing a cocked hat, sits in profile to the right, facing Dalrymple who sits (right) with tightly closed mouth, his hands on his knees. Between them, but with his chair from Dalrymple, sits a man in Spanish (here Portuguese) dress, wearing a feathered hat. The British officer sings: T'was You Sir-Hew - Twas Hew. that let the French Escape, That makes you look so blue Sir-Hew Sir Hew! He and the Portuguese (perhaps Freire) point minatory hands at Dalrymple, whose face is painted lead colour. On the wall are two pictures: (above the Portuguese) 'A correct representation of the French Plunderers stopt in their progress by the Spanish Patriots.' [at Baylen] and (above Dalrymple): 'A Correct representation of the French Plunderers quitting Portugal for France - under a British Escort.' In one a long train of wagons is stopped by armed men, in the other are ships in full sail. On the table are glasses and decanters of 'Port and Calcavella'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., and Watermark: E& P.
Publisher:
Pubd. Octr. 1808 by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Spain. and Portugal.
Subject (Name):
Cotton, Charles, Sir, 1753-1812 and Dalrymple, Hew Whiteford, Sir, 1750-1830
Subject (Topic):
Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815, Campaigns, Generals, British, Military officers, Singing, Wine, Drinking vessels, and Pictures
"Napoleon, John Bull (a 'cit'), a British general wearing a star, and the Duke of Portland sit in conference, each holding a large double paper covered with type or script. Napoleon sits on the left, pointing to the text of his paper and saying to his neighbour, "You see Mr Bull the case is simply this If you do so, I'll do so!" John, much disconcerted, stares at the Emperor, exclaiming "O! O!" The general also looks at Napoleon, perturbed. Portland (right), who sits in an armchair facing the Emperor, with frank dismay says: "If he says O! O! I'm afraid t'is but so! so!"."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Sounding the opinions of John Bull
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Later state, with imprint statement burnished from plate. For an earlier state with the imprint "Pubd. March 1808 by Walker & C., No. 7 Cornhill", see no. 10971 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 8., "March 1808" written in brown ink in lower right, over the remnants of the burnished imprint statement. Formerly mounted on a blue sheet, remnants visible on back., and Watermark, partially trimmed: 1811.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 and Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809
Subject (Topic):
Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815, John Bull (Symbolic character), Generals, British, Sitting, and Meetings
"John Bull, a fat 'cit', is seated beside a writing-table (right) holding up a large book. On the left hand page is inscribed 'Vote of Thanks respecting the Expedition to Copenhagen'; John's pen rests on the last word, but he turns in horror to gaze at the ghosts of (left to right) Fox, Pitt, and Burke. These wear shrouds and stand on clouds; all point a menacing forefinger. Fox says: "Erase those lines from your Journal"; Pitt and Burke say "Erase". Burke wears spectacles and a Jesuit's biretta (cf. British Museum Satires No. 6026), and holds a large book inscribed 'Sublime & Beautiful' [cf., e.g., British Museum Satires No. 6361]. John wears glasses, his hair rises on his head, pushing up his ill-fitting wig. He says: "Why dont you come then and transact the business yourselves? - it is impossible I can please every body. - it is come to such a pitch now that I have no peace either with the living or the dead!!!""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Spectres visiting John Bull
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed to plate mark leaving thread margins.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 23, 1808, by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and Denmark.
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, and Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797
Subject (Topic):
Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815, Foreign relations, John Bull (Symbolic character), Ghosts, and Writing materials