John Bull in a rage forcing Nic frog to fight against his will

Isaac Cruikshank the Elder

John Bull in a rage forcing Nic frog to fight against his will

London, S W Fores, Feb 8^th. 1793

Etching

Original hand colouring

Neat marginal repair.

£250

A fat and placid Dutchman leans cross-legged against a large barrel, smoking. His musket is under his left arm, bayonet resting on the ground. He wears civilian dress with a cartouche-box slung across his shoulder. An irate and ugly John Bull, his face blotched with drink, runs up to him, putting a sword in Nic’s right hand, saying Why, you cold-blooded dolt,can nothing move you? I say you shall be in a rage. Damme, you shall go to war; now what say you?. Nic answers, the words within the smoke that issues from his mouth,; I say nothing –you know John , I dare not contradicy you.  Pitt’s profile , enclosed in an obtuse angle, projects from the right margin, saying, tell him they will open the Sheldt, and he shall fight Dam him. . In the back ground is thec sea with ships. On the right is a Dutch town, with a jetty projecting into the sea. On a mound to the left, a sentry stands at attention.

A satire arising from the debate on Feb 1^st , when France declared war on England and Holland. Fox maintained that England was forcing Holland into a war which they wished to avoid.