"An exciseman stands in profile to the left, his lower lip protruding grotesquely; his chest is much thrown out, right hand thrust under his coat, left arm behind his back. From his pocket protrudes an 'Excise Book'. His ink-bottle is attached to his coat; in it is a pen; another pen projects from his cocked hat. A dog (right) befouls his leg."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Temporary local subject terms: Excisemen -- Excise books -- Ink bottles., Leaf 59 in an album with the spine title: Characatures by Dighton., 1 print : etching on laid paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 19.8 x 14.9 cm, on sheet 31.1 x 25.5 cm., and Watermark, trimmed: [Ed]meads 1808.
A man in ragged clothes stands facing right, hunched forward under the weight of a basket of 'Rents' and 'Taxes' strapped to his back. His legs are shackled, his mouth is closed by a padlock, and his hands are tied behind him. Image enclosed within a circle
Alternative Title:
Freeborn Englishman
Description:
Title etched above image., Printmaker is likely the publisher Thomas Spence's son William, who was born in the early 1780s and died in 1797. See Oxford Dictionary of national biography, entry for Thomas Spence., Probably a copy, with alterations, of a print published circa 1795 entitled "A freeborn Englishman, the admiration of the world, the envy of surrounding nations, &c. &c." See description for No. 8710 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 7., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Thomas Spence seems to have also issued copper tokens in 1796 with depictions of a similar shackled figure on one side. See for example British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: T.6498., and Not in Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum.
Publisher:
Publishd. by T. Spence, Turn Stile, Holborn
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain. and Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
Taxation, Poverty, Poor persons, Locks (Hardware), Shackles, and Taxes
A torrent of taxes gushes from the mouth of Lord Henry Petty, chancellor of the exchequer, emptying into the "Unfathomable Sea of Taxation" in which John Bull is drowning in full view of greedy cormorants representing members of the Grenville ministry which was formed after the death of William Pitt
Alternative Title:
John Bull swamped in the flood of new taxes
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Williams in the British Museum catalogue., A copy of a print by Gillray. Cf. No. 10564 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 8., 1 print : etching on laid paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 25.0 x 35.4 cm, on sheet 25.9 x 36.5 cm., and Mounted on leaf 23 of volume 6 of 12.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 1806 by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
England
Subject (Name):
Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Bedford, John Russell, Duke of, 1766-1839, Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Ellenborough, Edward Law, Baron, 1750-1818, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813, Lauderdale, James Maitland, Earl of, 1759-1839, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, and Adair, Robert, Sir, 1763-1855
Subject (Topic):
Taxes, John Bull (Symbolic character), Fountains, Cormorants, and Rowboats
Design in two compartments contrasting on the left the poverty and depravity of "French Liberty" with the opulence of the British on the right "British Slavery." The thin, ragged sansculotte with a liberty cap on his head, warms his bare, talon-like feet before a fire, while eating his dinner of raw onions. Behind him snails overflow his chamber pot; above the fireplace a "Map of French Conquests". At his feet a sword lies across a violin like a bow. He extolls the virtues of the National Assembly and new won liberties. In contrast on the right, an obese, red-faced Englishman sits in a luxurious room before a table laden with a tankard of hock and a large joint of beef. His shoes are slashed to relieve his bloated, gouty feet. A gold statute of Britannia adorns the wall above him. He curses his ministry for imposing taxes and starving the British people
Alternative Title:
British slavery
Description:
Title etched below image., Two images on one plate., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 25.2 x 35.5 cm, on sheet 27.7 x 39.7 cm., and Mounted on leaf 21 of volume 3 of 12.
Publisher:
Pubd. December 21st, 1792, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Geographic):
France, France., and Great Britain.
Subject (Topic):
History, Taxation, Britannia (Symbolic character), Liberty, Poverty, Rugs, Taxes, and Wealth
"John Bull sits in a double pair of stocks, his ankles heavily shackled. His wrists are linked by a huge padlock inscribed Million £800 000 000 [National Debt]. He sits on bales of Taxes; to his back is tied a huge bundle of Last Wars Taxes. His clothes are tattered; three pockets hang inside out, inscribed To Let. At his side (left), and in profile to the right, kneels a noble Spaniard, in very theatrical dress, with trunk hose, cloak, and ruff. He has a spear from which hangs a pennant inscribed Libertas. He puts his hands together in a gesture of prayer: I come once again, and on my kneens [sic] to implore your Aid, we are indeed grateful for former Services, and beleive that you fought purely for Spain and not for yourselves--Save us from our pretended Friends they are worse then Enemies--Save us, and the World, from the destruction of Liberty--. John bites his thumbs despairingly; he answers: I pity you, but I can only give you advice, when you came to me before, I was a Strong Man, and free, but I am now exhausted in saving you, and destroying your great Enemy--See how I am fetter'd--! My Creditors enchain me--! look at my Debt and pity me!-- At his feet a heavy pair of leg-irons lies across many papers inscribed Debt and Taxes. He sits under an oak-tree; from a partly-withered bough hang his cartouche-box and bayonet-belt. In the middle distance (right) Louis XVIII sits astride a cannon (cf. British Museum Satires No. 12797), on a gun-carriage drawn rapidly up a slope by the Tsar and the Emperor of Austria. Both wear uniform and crowns, that of the latter topped by a fool's cap. Both cry: War! War!! War! and blood!! Alexander holds a sword in one hand, a bayoneted musket in the other; Francis holds a sword and a pistol, against his shoulder is the shaft of a flag inscribed Holy Alliance. Louis XVIII leans back, flannelled legs extended, two pistols in his belt, a sword in one hand, a musket in the other. Before him on the cannon is a bowl of soup, &c. The Pope walks at his right, holding a string attached to his nose. The King: By the Powers I shall fall, and lose my Balance Stop!! Stop! I say don't pull so hard you'll rupture [your scored through] Eu rope, this is not suited to my Taste [scored through] Gout I am already crippled and cannot bear it Stop!!!-- The Pope, who wears his tiara and holds his crosier against his shoulder, answers: Fear not, I'll let you into Heaven, through the back door my dear Son. Keys hang from his neck. Behind the cannon runs the Devil pushing at the King's posterior with a trident; he says: They cannot go on without me so I bring up the rear!! Beside the cannon run tiny frogs in uniform with muskets, &c. A slightly bigger one holding a sword may represent Angoulême. Cannon fire at them from a fort on a hill."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier state
Alternative Title:
John Bull flourishing in a dignified attitude of strict neutrality
Description:
Title etched below image., Later state, with initials "A.J." added in lower right and the words "with Spain" added to speech bubble immediately to the right of the stocks in center of image. For an earlier state lacking these additions, see no. 14520 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 10., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 1823 by G. Humphrey, 24 St. James's Street & 74 New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Louis XVIII, King of France, 1755-1824, Francis I, Emperor of Austria, 1768-1835, Alexander I, Emperor of Russia, 1777-1825, and Pius VII, Pope, 1742-1823
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Public debt, Taxes, Trees, Rocks, Stocks (Punishment), Forts & fortifications, Cannons, Devil, and Frogs
"John Bull stands full-face on the pavement outside a shop window, holding on his head a red cap (i.e., bonnet rouge) trimmed with fur of quasi-military, quasi-libertarian shape. He is the yokel with wrinkled gaiters ... with a tattered great-coat held together by a military belt. In his left hand is a ragged hat. He says, with a broad grin: "Wounds, when Master Billy sees I in a Red-Cap, how he will stare! - egad; I thinks I shall cook em at last. - well if I could but once get a Cockade to my Red Cap, & a bit of a Gun - why, I thinks I should make a good stockey Soldier!" The shop is that of 'Billy-Black-Soul [Pitt], Hatter, & Sword-cutler \ Licenced to deal in Hats and Swords.' Above the door (right) are the royal arms and 'Stamp-Office' (the tax on hats being levied by a stamp). Within the window are crossed swords and military cocked hats with a number of stamps bearing the royal arms. In the foreground (left) is a pile of dead cats with a paper: 'List of Cats Killed for making skin caps 20000 Red 5000 Tabb ...'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bull evading the hat tax
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., 1 print : etching with stipple on laid paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 36.3 x 26.0 cm, on sheet 40.2 x 29.5 cm., and Mounted on leaf 25 of volume 4 of 12.
Publisher:
Pub. April 5th, 1797, by H. Humphrey, New Bond & St. James's Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Taxation, Taxation of articles of consumption, Law and legislation, John Bull (Symbolic character), Cats, Hats, Millinery, Slaughtering, Swords, Taxes, Show displays, and Window displays
A satire on the impeachment of Lord Melville, with politicans heads on dogs bodies
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from unverified data from local card catalog record., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 24.7 x 34.7 cm, on sheet 25.9 x 35.9 cm., and Mounted on leaf 40 of volume 8 of 14 volumes.
Publisher:
Pubd. June 23rd, 1806, by T. Rowlandson, No. 1 James St., Adelphi
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Whitbread, Samuel, 1764-1815, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, and Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823
"Three tax-collectors beset a house door, on which is a plate: 'Doctor Humbug', and above: 'Advice Gratis.' An elderly man holds the knocker, a ring in a lion's mouth, and looks up at the window above where two heads peer out: a grotesque aged couple wearing nightcaps. On the lintel stands a pestle and mortar, inscribed 'Hippocrates.' On the house are two bills: 'The Goodwill of this House to be disposed of for Particulars enquire' - and 'The Budget opened or how to raise the Wind for the Year 1805.' The tax-collector holds a large open book: 'Window Tax Income Property House Tax'; under his arm is another book;..'Tax-Servants-Horses.' Papers inscribed 'Tax' and 'Taxes' project from his coat-pocket. Beside him, a man holding a paper points his pen viciously at the open window. A third man stands close behind holding a large book inscribed 'Dog Tax.' On the extreme left a woman carrying an infant begs, looking up at the window; a little boy beside her holds out his hat for alms to the tax-collector. On the right a fat man gapes up at the window while a little boy picks his pocket of a hankerchief. The house is at a corner, and from its wall a lamp with oil, spilling it on the people below. In the background (right) are tall, old-fashioned houses, all the windows, except in the top floor and attics, are 'Block'd Up'; one is 'To Lett.'"--British Museum catalogue
Alternative Title:
Clamorous tax gatherers
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; sheet 34.4 x 24.3 cm., and Mounted on leaf 21 of volume 8 of 14 volumes.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 3, 1805, by Howitt, N. 73, Wardour Street, Soho
Subject (Topic):
Beggars, City & town life, Pickpockets, Poor persons, and Taxes
"A stout cylindrical shaft stretches across the upper part of the design, inscribed 'Manufactures & Commerce'. To this cling by both hands four ragged and desperate artisans, wearing aprons, but it has broken in the middle so that they, and others clinging to them, are about to fall into the swirling clouds at the base of the design. Two larger and stouter men, respectably dressed employers, cling frantically to the legs or garments of the four artisans. At the base of this inverted pyramid is a stout figure, half-bishop, half-King, clinging to coat-tails and pocket of the two men above him. A bloated episcopal face is half covered by a battered crown (right), while a large mitre tilts to the left, and the figure, Church and State, is clothed half in surplice (left), half in ermine-trimmed robe, with one episcopal leg, and one leg with a garter inscribed '[Hon]i Soit' [George IV as in British Museum Satires No. 15819 by the same artist]. Above the broken shaft is a large irradiated inscription: 'Manufactures & Commerce support the Workmen | they the Merchants & Masters who are the | chief tax payers & thereby support | The great tax eater Church-and- State.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Possibly by Robert Seymour; see British Museum catalogue., and Matted to: 45.6 x 31.5 cm.
Publisher:
Publishd. by Thos. McLean, 26 Haymarket
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830.
Subject (Topic):
Artisans, Aprons, Crowns, Miters, Robes, Church & state, and Taxes
Title etched below image., Date from alternate state. See The Lewis Walpole Library, call no. 799.08.30.05., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Temporary local subject terms: Taxes: tax collector -- Window tax -- Income tax -- Bird cages -- Pets: cat., and Mounted on leaf 39 of volume 7 of 14 volumes.
