The Budget Botcher juggling Johnny Bull.

(John Phillips pseud Sharpshooter)

The Budget Botcher juggling Johnny Bull.

London, G Humphrey Feb 26^th. 1831

Etching

Original hand colouring

360 x 250 mm

£180

John Bull hobbles on crutches, while Althorp adds to his heavy burden. John wears a ragged coat and broken boots, strapped to his back are two huge packages on top of which a smartly dressed lady is seated. Althorp pushes up a stouter lady, saying ,Well, my dear Johnny how do you like it now?—shall I shift it again? Any way to please you,–from your head to your tail and back again, I can’t allow you to shake anything off—not even the Lady paupers. John, looking round with an anguished stare, says, I wish you’dshove it a little higher up. Behind is a third lady with a badge on her breast inscribed in reversed characters 500 (or 1500) per Annum.On the ground, under the feet of John Bull and Althorp, is a torn paper: Budget – Wine – Transfer of Stock—Cotton Timber Steam passengers.

Althorp brought in his much-disparaged budget on the 11^th. Feb. Among the changes were increased duties on wine, timber, cotton, and new duties on stgeam-boat passengers.

BM 16582