- Museum number
- 1868,0808.4817
- Title
- Object: The reconciliation between Britania and her daughter America
- Description
-
Britannia and America embrace, while France and Spain try to pull America away, Holland (left) watches their efforts and Fox (right) points out the struggle to Keppel. Britannia, in profile to the left, with her shield beside her decorated with a St. George's Cross inscribed “George for Ever”, rushes into the arms of America, in profile to the right, a Red Indian wearing feathered head-dress and girdle, sandals and flowing hair confined by a ribbon. Britannia has her spear, America her flag, its staff surmounted by a Phrygian cap inscribed “Liberty”. Britannia says, “Be a good Girl and give me a Buss”. American answers, “Dear Mama say no more about it”. France holds both ends of a scarf passed round America's waist and tugs hard at it, Spain behind him pulls at a strap or ribbon which is passed over France's shoulder, over this tie between them is inscribed “Combin'd”. France, as a petit-maître with feathered hat and large bag-wig, is saying “Begar they will befriends again if you dont pull a little harder Cus . . .” Spain, pulling hard and looking over his right shoulder at France, says, “Monsieur Toad stool me do all I can to keep them asunder pull her hair, but take care she Dont kick you”. On the extreme left Holland, a fat Dutchman smoking a pipe, leans against a barrel of “Dutch Herrings”. By his side is a square bottle of “hollands Gin”. He is saying, “I'll Delliberate a little to see which is weakest, then I'll give you a direct answer Kate Rusia”. c.May 1782
Etching
- Production date
- 1782
- Dimensions
-
Height: 246 millimetres
-
Width: 352 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
Russia had offered to mediate in 1781. Fox's first step on taking office was an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate separately with Holland through the medium of Russia. ‘Corr. of C. J. Fox’, i. 331; Wraxall, ‘Memoirs’, 1884, ii. 277-9; ‘Camb. Hist. of the British Empire’, i. 773; see BMSat 6014. It is clear, however, that the simple-minded artist knows little of the realities of politics and diplomacy.
Fox stands pointing to the left. Under his feet are cards, dice, and a dice-box inscribed “Forgot”. (While in office Fox suspended his systematic gaming at Brooks's, see BMSat 5972.) A fox's head appears from behind him, perhaps from his coat-pocket, saying “Sharp as a Sword”. A fox's brush hangs down below his coat. He is saying, “Da-n that Frenchman & his Cousin Don, how they strain to part them, make haste my boy Keppel & give them a Spank”. Keppel, in profile to the right, partly cut off by the margin of the print, is saying “That I will my Prince of bold Action they shall have fore and aft.”
Beneath the title is engraved:
“1
A curse upon all Artifice
May Briton never thrive
2
While Roguish Minis-rs they keep
to Eat them up alive
3
By Lots they sell oh Dam-em Well
Each place we put our trust in
4
Cut them of [sic] short twill make good sport
Whilst honest men are thrust in.”
The date of this print is probably after the formation of the new Ministry on 30 Mar., and before 18 May when news arrived of Rodney's victory, a favourite subject with this artist. Reproduced, Drepperd, ‘Early American Prints’, p. 203.
(Supplementary information)
A Humphrey re-issue of a Colley plate.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.4817
