print;
satirical print
- Museum number
- J,4.2
- Title
- Object: Mr Drake's reply to his calumniators!!
- Description
-
Francis Drake (r.), with the head of a drake but wearing a bag-wig, stands facing four accusers; he bends forward, his hands resting on the incriminating papers which are on a small writing-table. The first, evidently Baron de Mongelas, Bavarian Minister, wearing a cocked hat and jack-boots, says: "O Dear - Dear - Mr Drake what have you to say for yourself - I wonder you are not ashamed." Drake answers: "Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!" Next is a Spaniard, both hands held up in horror: "By St Jago it is a sin against Religion & Morality!" On the extreme left. is a German, with clasped hands (probably the Prussian Minister, Lucchesini), saying, "Such a Goodman as the first Consul So Humane, - and so Charitatable! - I am ashamed to think of it My Master shall hear of it you may depend on it." Between him and the Spaniard stands a plainly dressed little man, probably the American Minister, Livingston, turning up his eyes sanctimoniously to say: "A little man too - so full of Piety !!" 16 April 1804
Hand-coloured etching
- Production date
- 1804
- Dimensions
-
Height: 275 millimetres
-
Width: 380 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VIII, 1947)
See BMSat 10236, &c. In answer to Talleyrand's note to the foreign diplomats in Paris with evidence of Drake's intrigues, eighteen wrote to express condemnation, some adding compliments to Napoleon. The Spanish Minister was not among them, though the Portuguese (de Souza) was. Lucchesini stressed the lively interest of the King of Prussia in the preservation of Napoleon's life. Livingston [He came to England with peace overtures in June 1804. Pitt thought them not serious, as the intermediary was a man 'whose hostile disposition to this country has been so strongly and so lately manifested'. Stanhope, 'Pitt', 1862, iv. 201 f.] blamed Drake for attempts, not only against the First Consul's life, but against the happiness of France, 'the result of his noble labours in the field of honour and in the cabinet . . .'. For this he was attacked by Cobbett, see 'Weekly Pol. Reg.', 26 May 1804. See 'Ann. Reg.', 1804, pp. 630 ff.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1818
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- J,4.2
