The Times, Anno 1783 (BM 1868,0822.7107)

Figures personifying England, France, Spain, and Holland represent the international situation. England (right), a John Bull, stout and plainly dressed, holds up his hands, with a melancholy expression, exclaiming "Tis lost! Irrecoverably lost". By his side (right) lies a broken anchor, and above his head a demon flies off, holding up a partly-rolled map of America; he has bat's wings, and is clad in ragged breeches; he excretes a puff of smoke inscribed "Poor John Bull! Ha! Ha! Ha!" France, in profile to the right, a 'petit maître' of exaggerated leanness, offers John Bull a snuff-box, and takes a pinch himself, saying, with a grimace, "Ah. Ah. me Lord Angla, volez vous une pince de Snuff, for de Diable will not give you back de Amerique". Spain, the Spanish don of pictorial satire, wearing a long sword, stands, his left hand on the shoulder of France, the right arm outstretched, saying, "See Gibraltar! See Don Langara! by S Anthony you have made me the Laughing Stock of Europe". Behind him is Gibraltar, a rock with fortifications flying the British flag, in front small vessels are exploding in smoke, evidently the floating batteries which suffered such damage in the futile attack on Gibraltar of 13 Sept. 1782, see BMSat 6035, &c. Don Langara had been captured by Rodney in his victory of 16 Jan. 1780, see BMSat 5646-8, 5658. On the extreme left is Holland, a stolid burgher wearing baggy breeches and a hat like an inverted flower-pot. He is in three quarter back view, looking to the right and saying "De Donder take you Monseiur [sic] I think I have paid the Piper". Clouds above a low horizon form the background, with Gibraltar (left) and a naval engagement (right) in the distance. 14 April 1783
Hand-coloured etching and aquatint