print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- 1868,0808.4746
- Title
- Object: Jack England fighting the four confederates.
- Description
-
An English sailor (left) with clenched fists faces Holland, France, Spain, and America, all but the first appearing "hors de combat". Numbers indicate the names of the 'Four Confederates which are given below the design. (1) America (right), "Yanky Doodle", an Indian brave with a feathered head-dress and girdle, is prone on the ground, his spear beside him; he says "This fall has hurt my Back". (2) France or "Monsieur Louis Baboon" dressed as a French fop with a bag-wig, is vomiting, his hand across his breast, his knees bent; he says, "Dem Jersey Pills have made a me Sick". (3) Spain or "Don Diego", dressed as a Spanish don, is bleeding from one eye, he stands behind America, saying "by St Jago he has almost Blinded me". These three are grouped together on the left, turning away from Jack England. No. 4 or "Mynheer Frog", dressed as a Dutch peasant, is standing with his legs wide apart, his fists clenched, smoking a pipe, he faces Jack, saying "I have almost forgot how to fight". In the background are ships.
Beneath the title is engraved:
"To Arms you Brave Britons to Arms the
Road to Renown Lyes before you." 20 January 1781
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1781
- Dimensions
-
Height: 204 millimetres
-
Width: 242 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
This represents the situation at the beginning of 1781. The taking of Charlestown on 12 May 1780 by Clinton, the victory of Cornwallis at Camden (16 Aug. 1780), and a temporary British naval supremacy on the American coast had reduced the Americans to serious straits. The declaration of war with Holland (20 Dec. 1780) was hailed as an opportunity for the British navy and privateers, since Holland was "less troublesome as a declared enemy than as a very nominal neutral". 'Camb. Hist. of the Br: Empire', i. 750. See BMSat 5557, &c. At the beginning of 1781 the French made a second attempt on Jersey and surprised St. Helier on 6 Jan., but were immediately afterwards completely defeated by Major Pierson and forced to surrender. 'Ann. Reg.', 1782, pp. 96-9. 'London Gazette Extraordinary', 9 Jan. 1781.
There is an aquatint of the fighting in St. Helier on 6 Jan. in the Print Department, published on 24 Apr. 1781 by Colley and Hedges, 288 Strand.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.4746
