Front and Back View of the Commercial Coalition (BM 1868,0808.5613)

Two figures: the front view (left) and the back view (right) of a man, both divided vertically by a line passing down the middle of the head and body, one part representing England, the other France; the English parts are plainly dressed and stout with a thick arm and leg, the French are correspondingly thin and foppishly dressed, the coat patterned with fleurs-de-lis. Words are written on the two figures, which are so arranged that the stout English parts are on the extreme left and right, the thin French parts in the centre. Across the face are 'Beef \ Soup, Credit \ Contra, Import \ ation', the second word of each pair being on the French side. On the body: 'Dis \ Count, En \ tries, Capital \ Ditto, Pudding \ Frogs, Equal \ ising, Dut \ ies'. The (right) English fist is 'Embargo', the left (French) hand holds an 'Edict', torn from the adjacent French hand. The right leg is 'Gâllant', the left 'Gallânt'; the right foot rests on a paper inscribed 'Prejudi[ce]', the left on one inscribed 'Reciprocity'.
The figure in back view is similarly inscribed, the words on the left relating to France, those on the right to England: 'C \ ustoms, Cargo \ Freight, Policy Posted \ Honored Faith, Expo \ rtation, Drawback Credit \ Oak Advance'. 30 January 1787

Etching