Beneath it is a printed song. The 'Morning Chronicle' ascribes the design to “a well known Rt. Hon. Artist” [Lord Townshend], the song to ”the Man of the people”, that is C. J. Fox. A Scot in Highland dress is walking away from the 'Crown Inn', he looks round at a chained mastiff (left) which is barking savagely at him. He carries off his plunder: in his right hand is a purse, a sceptre appears over his right shoulder, a sack is slung on his back.
<p><br>In a ground-floor window of the Crown Inn George III is visible, his head thrown back as if asleep, a bandage across his eyes. From an upper window Fox, with a fox's head, leans out, holding a rope to pull back into position the sign of the Crown which is falling from its support. Two other men, one in a judge's wig (perhaps Lord Camden), stand behind him in the window. From the next window (left) a military officer, perhaps General Conway, leans out, pointing at the sign as if giving directions. Across the front of the house, below the upper windows, is inscribed “Mrs Bull late in Partnership with Sawney Mc Kenzie, with her Steward.”
<br>The house is shored up by two timber props inscribed “Paper Credit” and “Liberty of the Press”. Two iron stanchions also support the house. A man in the street is putting a ladder against the beam from which the sign hangs. The end of the beam is decorated by a wide pair of horns, beneath which is suspended a small cask on which an infant Bacchus sits astride. To the right are larger and more imposing buildings than the Crown Inn. On the large a tree appearing above a wall forms an important part of the design, it conceals part of the inn.
<br>Beneath the design is printed:
<br><br>“1. 
<br>John Bull had a sister, her name it was Peg, 
<br>From the North of the Tweed came to London to beg, 
<br>In a filthy condition, and not worth a souse, 
<br>Whom John, out of pity, took into his house.
<br>Deny Down, &amp;c.
<br><br>2.
<br>She perverted John's wife, as I have been told, 
<br>Who from a good housewife, was grown a great scold, 
<br>And by drinking strong liquor, in Scotland call'd Whiskey, 
<br>Was grown beyond measure wrong-headed and friskey.
<br>Derry Down.
<br><br>3. 
<br>A lad from the North she took into keeping, 
<br>To do her odd jobs while poor John was a-sleeping; 
<br>But, lest he should wake, it plainly appears, 
<br>She bandaged his eyes, and she stopp'd up his ears.
<br>Derry Down.
<br><br>4. 
<br>Sawney, John's servant, grew a braw bony chiel, 
<br>Who wish'd to send John and his wife to the de'el;
<br>He eat up his victuals and purloin'd his treasure, 
<br>Then he left his good master, to repent at his leisure.
<br>Derry Down.
<br><br>5.
<br>His land being mortgaged in country and town, 
<br>Tho' he long kept with credit the Sign of the Crown; 
<br>His house in decay, and now wanting propping, 
<br>His Sign off the hinges, and down almost dropping.
<br>Derry Down. 
<br><br>6. 
<br>But John had some friends, who together agreed 
<br>To give him some help in the great time of need; 
<br>They turn'd out his sister, divorc'd his bad wife, 
<br>And got him a new one to comfort his life.
<br>Derry Down.
<br><br>7.
<br>They kick'd Sawney out, unmuzzle'd John's dog, 
<br>They propp'd up the Sign, and took off the clog; 
<br>Then kindly they bad him, take leave of all cares, 
<br>Since they for the future wou'd guide his affairs.
<br>Derry Down.
<br><br>8. 
<br>Ye Natives of England, pray mind what I sing, 
<br>Who wou'd save this poor country and preserve our good King, 
<br>Make a strong pull, a long pull, and pull all together, 
<br>Let it scoul in the North, ne'er regard the foul weather.
<br>Derry Down.”  14 June 1782
</p>
<br>Etching with a poem printed in letterpress underneath the plate
<div class="fn value">
<p>Attributed to: Francesco Bartolozzi
</p>
<dl><dd>After: George Townshend, 4th Viscount and 1st Marquess Townshend</dd>
<dd>Published by: George Kearsley the elder</dd></dl></div>
1782<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1782-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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