An answer to BMSat 5712. The figures have numbers which refer to a printed explanation pasted below the print, giving the words supposed to be spoken. In the lower half of the design a "pro-English Dutchman" (1) stands (left) facing and addressing (2) the British leopard, and (3) the Dutch lion, behind whom stand a row of persons representing the powers of Europe, &amp;c. In the upper part of the design are (left) "Portsm.[outh]", represented by a coast-line and group of buildings. Off the coast is the word "Byland", representing the convoy taken to Portsmouth by Fielding, see BMSat 5628, &amp;c. "Lisbon" is represented by a similar group of buildings, situated east (on right) of Portsmouth. Two crowned columns represent Dutch overseas possessions (the same symbol was used in English satires, cf. BMSat 5961), with the words "Berbic., Curac, St Eust., K. Bon Esp". Three isolated figures (13-15) fill the remaining upper part of the print (right).
<p><br>The pro-English Dutchman (1) is "Cato Batavus", author of the print, "The lion attacked by cunning and force" (BMSat 5712). He stands (left) in profile to the right, arms outstretched, papers protruding from his coat pocket: "English bank notes to show that the money which he draws from that Court, and the capital that he has in the bank of London is to induce him to sacrifice his country to a foreign power which is injuring her." He points to the Dutch "établissements" [the two columns] and seems to say "the English have been, are, and will be our best allies, we are in their debt; the trade with which they furnish us makes us prosperous, it is even for our good that they capture our ships, which are destined for France, they know better than we, that we harm ourselves by trading with France. Do you not see, that should we be headstrong enough to neglect our interests which they understand better than our blind rulers, they will take away the Cape of Good Hope, Surinam, St. Eustatius, Curaçoa, de Molukken &amp;c, and all our merchant ships ? They suppose that we have reason to complain of the English, but the English might rightly complain of us, who have the audacity to desire the independence of our colonies." He faces two snarling beasts: the British leopard (2), looking round at the Dutch lion, whom he strikes with his paw. "He sees with fury that the Dutch lion is getting up after he had thrown him down, yet he sees in the distance a crowned woman [Catharine II] and this holds him in awe."
<br>The Dutch lion (3) is a heraldic-looking beast holding in his left fore-paw a trident. "He is not yet recovered from his fall, yet he is in a fit state to defend himself, whenever the leopard attacks him again."
<br>Behind the leopard and the lion stands (4) an Englishman, one hand on the lion's head, the other on his trident, from which a chain ascends to Lisbon. (Portugal, England's ally, at first refused to join the Armed Neutrality but eventually did so.) He "takes Neptune's trident from the Dutch lion, yet flatters him, in order to bind him to the same fetters with which he holds Portugal in chains". It is as if he were saying "to give the Dutch the illusion that our interests are the same, we have cleverly managed that they have invested a great part of their money in our funds. Although we cannot withhold payment from them, without losing our credit, which is our only support, yet nevertheless we shall continually make them fear our bankruptcy in order to hold them to our interests. In order the better to show them that their interests are ours, we have taken from them their sceptre of the seas, New York, Pouleron, Sillebar [New York (New Amsterdam) was captured by the English in 1669; "Pouleron", i.e. Polaron or Pulo Run, one of the Banda Islands, is an indication of the Dutch preoccupation with Cromwell, see BMSat 5732, &amp;c. Run was disputed between the English and Dutch between 1620 and 1667. At the peace of 1634 Cromwell forced the Dutch to restore it; it was taken again in 1664 and kept at the peace of Breda. It changed hands, 1796-1814, being finally restored to the Dutch in 1814. "Sillebar" is obscure.] &amp;c. and our Navigation Act has transferred into our hands much of their trade. To bring them the better under our yoke we shall, by our persistency, make them afraid of the Papacy and the tyranny of the House of Bourbon, thus we shall gradually make them believe that we are the sovereign of the seas, that we keep them all blockaded, and at the same time are in all corners of the world, on land as well as at sea, that nothing is so much to be feared as a universal monarchy." Between him and the next figure (5) is a placard inscribed "Nieuw Jork Pouleron Acte Navig [Navigation Act] Sillebar."
<br>Next stands (5) a Dutch merchant holding up a paper inscribed with a list of names: "Falst., Duyn., Chat., Dov., Nieuwp., Van Gal., Ruit., Trom., Everts", and pointing to the figures in the upper part of the print (France, Spain, and America); these are "the names that are so terrible to the English". "Chat." indicates the burning of the ships at Chatham in 1667, Jan van Galen, de Ruyter, Tromp, and Everts are Dutch admirals. The significance of the other words is obscure; the English beat the Dutch off Nieuwport, June 1653. He seems to say to the pro-Dutch Englishman, "you contend that France and Spain are decadent and that intolerance and tyranny and the Universal Monarchy will rise up anew. How is it that they have been able to take Grenada, St Vincent, Domingo, Florida, &amp;c. from the English? How is it that they have the reckless policy, for tyrants, of supporting the independence of America? You say that the English will soon take away our over-seas possessions, how comes it that they let all theirs be taken from them? . . ."
<br>Next stands (6) Catharine II, in profile to the left, a sceptre in her right hand, her left resting on an anchor. She stands just within a circle or hoop in which stand four other persons (7-10). In the centre is an imperial crown, resting on an escutcheon inscribed "Hanzee", showing that the Hanse towns had adhered to the Armed Neutrality. The Empress, "disturbed at the arrogance (despotismus) of the English, wishes to restore the freedom of the seas by an alliance between the neutral powers". At sight of her the Dutch lion has raised his head. On her alliance he already counts.
<br>(7) and (8) are insignificant-looking men representing the kings of Sweden and Denmark. (9) is the king of Prussia in military uniform and jack-boots. (10) is a woman holding up the hat of Liberty on a staff, in her left hand are the seven arrows symbolizing the United Provinces. She is "the United Provinces depicted as the Dutch Maid".
<br>The English Ambassador [Sir Joseph Yorke] (11) stands just outside the circle, holding it with his left hand, in his right is a knife with which he is about "to cut to pieces the bond which joins the allied powers". Next him stands (11) the French ambassador, his coat patterned with fleur-de-lys, restraining him from cutting the bond. This "shows the absurd stupidity of the author of the Awakened Lion and of those who have not realized that this alliance is to the great advantage of France and was perhaps the fruit of her statecraft". 
<br>In the upper part of the design, next the two pillars representing the Dutch colonial possessions, stands (13) the king of Spain, holding a sword pointing to the word "Florida" "which he has captured from the English". Next him is (14) the king of France, his sword pointing to the words "Granada, St Vincent, Dominique", "the places won from England"; in his left hand he holds a hat, "the hat of freedom", over the head of (15) "N. America". America is a young woman seated on a bale of goods, beside which the muzzle of a cannon is visible. In her right hand is a sheaf of thirteen arrows (like the seven of the United Provinces), in her left a cross-hilted sword, the point of which rests on a yoke which lies beneath her feet, symbolizing the yoke of England.  1780
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<br>Etching
1780<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1780-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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