Design occupying top third of plate shows Bute driving a cart labelled G.R. III, having just crossed the Rubicon, laden with National Debt, Pensioners, etc., drawn by ministerial donkeys including ones labelled North, Germaine, Sandwich, and Weymouth. The donkeys are assailed by opposition dogs Burke, Wilkes, Fox etc. In the upper left an overloaded boat depicts the "Commissioners setting off for America." Smaller insets beneath the main image refer to the balance of power and antiministerial demonstrations. Two columns of dialect verse beneath image, follow the title "A new gallant shew or the ministry's cabinet & minority's closet broke open" signed at bottom by Doodle Doodle Doo. A criticism of both governmental ministry and the opposition
Alternative Title:
View of the political state of the nation
Description:
Title from item., Imperfect; cropped with loss of imprint and last 2 lines of verse., Date of publication from English political caricature., Publisher from impression in John Carter Brown Library., "Price 1 shilg.", and Mounted to 33 x 35 cm.
Publisher:
Publish'd as the act directs May 11, 1778 at Darly's, Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, United States, and America.
Subject (Name):
Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Sandwich, John Montagu, Earl of, 1718-1792., Sackville, George Germain, Viscount, 1716-1785., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797., Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790., Hancock, John, 1737-1793., and Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, History, Colonies, Donkeys, Carts & wagons, Dogs, Seesaws, and Coats of arms
In a landscape with a town in the background, a zebra is shown facing left with the names of the 13 colonies engraved on its stripes. Behind the animal, George Grenville is about to put on its back a saddle labelled "Stamp Act." To the left, Lord North pulls at the reins, proclaiming "My name is Boreas the First; I hold the reins and will never quit them till the beast is subdued." On the right two men hold the tail, one a representative of France, the other in English military dress (probably depicting Washington) saying "My name is Fabius the Second, & the rudder is my hand." Behind North are the three commissioners, probably Johnstone, Carlisle, and Eden, lamenting that "Our offers are rejected, no terms but independence" etc
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted to 24 x 30 cm.
Publisher:
Printed for G. Johnson as the Act directs 3 Sept. 1778, and sold at all the printshops in London & Westminster
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, United States, America., and England
Subject (Name):
Carlisle, Frederick Howard, Earl of, 1748-1825., Johnstone, George, 1730-1787., Auckland, William Eden, Baron, 1744-1814., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Washington, George, 1732-1799., and Grenville, George, 1712-1770.
Subject (Topic):
Stamp act, 1765, Politics and government, History, Causes, Colonies, Clothing & dress, and Zebras