English

Circa 1774

Etching on laid paper

8″ H X 9″ W

Lord North strides across a stream which flows from the door of Westminster Hall; floating down the stream is a crowd of members of parliament. North’s feet are supported on two blocks inscribed “Tyranny and Venality”. In his right hand are three papers inscribed “Places”; “Pensions”; “Lottery Tickets”; in his left is a flaming torch inscribed “America”. By the stream on the right. stand two figures: Britannia, with shield and spear, holding out a paper inscribed: “Those that Should have been my Preservers have been my Destroyers”; and Wilkes (recently elected Lord Mayor) in civic gown and chain. He holds a broom towards the foremost of the floating members and by his hand is a label: “I’ll stem the Stream”.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Who doesn’t love a classic satirical cartoon? This cartoon is a wonderful representation of the strife the British subjects felt about the Revolutionary War… A Great book on this subject is The Men Who Lost America by Andrew Jackson O’shaughnessy