High fun for Iohn Bull, or, The Republicans put to their last shift [graphic] / Rowlandson invt. & sculpt.

[London] : Published Novr. 12, 1798 by R. Akerman, N. 101 Strand, [12 November 1798]

1 print : etching and aquatint ; sheet 27.5 x 36 cm

laid paper

From a collection in fourteen volumes compiled by Francis Harvey and dispersed at auction, Sotheby, London, June 1900. Sold at Sotheby, London, 12 March 1919. Bequest of Hugh Dudley Auchincloss to Yale University Library, 1981. Bound by Riviere & Son in three-quarters red morocco with gold tooling and gold lettering on spine.

"John Bull stands with a whip, jovially watching the baking of ships for France in a 'Dutch Oven' (right). A fat Dutchman, an empty pipe in his mouth, pushes into the oven on a shovel a batch of ships, saying, "Donder & Blaxan to Dis Fraternization instead of smoaking mine Pipes & sacking De Gold, Dis french Broders make me build Ships Dat Mynheer Jan Bull may have De Fun to take dem." A ragged Frenchman kneels behind him holding out another batch of ships on a tray, saying, "Sacredieu Citoyens make a Haste wit one autre Fleet, den we will shew you how to make one grande Invasion." Beside the oven (right) a French peasant, more ragged and abject, approaches with a heavy receptacle inscribed: 'Ruination, Botheration, Confiscation, Requisition, Plunderation, Limitation, Execution, Constitution, Fraternization, Naturalization, Expedition, Abolition, Cutthroatation & Damnation'. Behind the Dutchman a Spaniard supports on his head a tray of cannon, saying, "How! That Nelson wit one Arm & Eye, can take our Ships by Dozens then vat shall we do against the autres, wid two Arms and Eyes, dey will have two dozen at a Time". John Bull answers, a hand on his fat paunch, "What? you could not find that out before you stupid Dupes, but since you began the fun you shall keep on - So work away Damn ye else Jack Tar will soon be idle". Behind (left) a grinning Jack Tar capers, with a large tray of ships on his head, saying, "Push on keep moving [cf. BMSat 9010] I'll soon come for another Cargo for Old England for ever Huzza."--British Museum online catalogue.

English

May 13, 2016