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A French emblematical design, with numbers referring to an explanation engraved below the print. The sovereigns of Europe surround a rectangular council-table on three sides. On the table is a map, inscribed ‘République française une et indivisible’, in the centre of which is a cap of liberty emitting rays ; A cock enters by an oval window above the door, grasping a level, which emits flames and thunderbolts directed against the crowns of Catherine II, Francis II, Charles IV, and George III ; Immediately behind '1' stands Francis II, his crown, clutched by a double-headed Habsburg eagle, falls from his head; serpents emerge from it. One hand holds the map, the other is raised with a predatory ; Beside him (left) is Frederick William II, pointing to the map, his left hand on the shoulder of Francis II, looking round at Catherine II, who is seated at the head of the table; his (broken) crown falls from his head ; On a throne (left), on a dais, and under a canopy of heavy draperies, sits Catherine II, her left foot planted on the council-table, her arms held out towards the map ; The dismasted ship and burning straw are in the foreground on the extreme left. Behind Catherine, lurking in the draperies of her throne, stands Stanislaus II of Poland on the extreme left, frowning over his shoulder at the council-table, his crown is broken. ; Between and behind 3 and 4 is Victor Amadeus III of Savoy, his crown obscured and displaced by a small solid cloud; he has a grotesquely long nose ; Charles IV, his crown on fire and horns sprouting from his forehead, stands beside Francis II, his hand held before his face. Next (right), at the end of the table facing Catherine stands George III, his crown on fire and threatened by a small solid cloud, his expression one of foolish vacuity. Before him on the table are piles of coins, which extend across the map of France; he holds two in his right hand, which rests on the table. Behind him stands Pitt, his fingers ending in talons, his legs in hoofs; he directs the King's actions and pushes a hooked pole resembling a boat-hook on to the map, beside 'Toulon'. They are. ; On the extreme right sits the Pope, holding his triple cross, his crown partly obscured by a small cloud. In his left hand he holds a scroll headed 'Bulle' and ending with 'nulle'. At his feet the dove of the Saint-Esprit, the head irradiated, lies dead. ; In the foreground, emerging from under the table-cloth, is a monkey, Ferdinand IV of Naples, the order of the Golden Fleece hung round his neck; he looks towards the Pope. Beneath him is a (damaged) heraldic shield with the arms of the House of Bourbon. On the ground beside him are a toy horse on wheels and a crown pierced by a stag's antlers. ; (The annual tribute of a white hackney from the King of Naples to the Pope had been abolished in 1776.</div>
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Barnabé Augustin de Mailly (1732-179.)</div>
Bibliothèque nationale de France