John Bull stands full-face, shouting and stamping with rage, on a block of turf inscribed 'Land-Tax 4s in the pound'. Across his shoulders are two yokes, one inscribed 'National - Debt &amp;c', the other 'Civil-List &amp;c.'; from the four ends hang objects representing taxes. From the left end of the former dangles a figure made up of barrels, bars, &amp;c, the head represented by lighted 'Candles'; it is inscribed 'Excise-Man'; the rope attaching it to the yoke is 'Excise'. Its right hand (left), inscribed 'Auctions', holds out an auctioneer's hammer; the left holds a bottle of Wine, in a stand inscribed 'Plate'. The other portions of the body are inscribed 'Beer', 'Tea', 'Cyder', 'Spirits', 'Malt', 'Tobacco', 'Calico', 'Hides', 'Glass', 'Soap', 'Coffee', 'Chocolate'. Between its legs are the words 'Licenses &amp;c. &amp;c.' The head of a crocodile inscribed 'New Taxes' extends from the lower left corner of the design, directing a barbed tongue at the Excise Man. From the other end of this yoke a bundle of scrolls dangles from a rope inscribed 'Taxes: Maid Servants, Men Servants, Carriages &amp;c, Game, Places, &amp;c &amp;c.' A similar bundle of Stamps hangs from the left end of the Civil-List yoke: 'Medecines', 'Warrants of Attorney', 'Cards &amp; Dice', 'Almanacks', 'Notes', 'Horses', 'Receipts', 'Bonds &amp;c', 'News-papers', 'Pamphlets', '&amp;c. &amp;c.' From the right end of this yoke hangs a pyramid of barrels, sacks, &amp;c, its rope inscribed 'Customs:' they are inscribed respectively, 'Wine', 'Cloth', 'Leather', 'Salt', 'Pepper', 'Coals', 'Sugar', 'Wool', 'Tobacco &amp;c &amp;c.'
<p><br>Two feathers (or leaves) fly upwards, inscribed 'Attornies' (left) and Pawnbrokers (right). Portions of two buildings are visible on the extreme left and right: on the left is a two-storied house, the roof inscribed 'Tile Tax', the front inscribed 'Brick Tax', 'Insurance Tax', 'Window Tax', 'House Tax', its wide blocked-up door or window, 'Shop Tax'. On the right is the corner of a church, inscribed 'Parochial Taxes, Poor's rate, Watch, Lights, Scavenger Pavement &amp;c.' A tombstone (?) resting against it is inscribed 'State Taxes, Births, Christenings, Marriages, Deaths and Burials'. The Briton wears a bandage over one eye inscribed 'Commutation'; his hat is labelled 'Stamp' and 'Turn-pike'. His shouting mouth is inscribed 'Custom' and 'Excise' and these words, together with 'Stamp', are inscribed respectively on his body and limbs. A caterpillar crawls towards him from the right, inscribed 'Marriage Portions'. Beneath the title is etched:
<br><br>'From top to toe, all o'er stuck full 
<br>With Taxes grievous, poor John Bull, 
<br>By acts of state so strictly bound, 
<br>Pays shillings fourteen in the pound; 
<br>Should Taxes new the rest surprise, 
<br>Like Shop-Tax, stamps and laws excise, 
<br>John must sink beneath the evil, 
<br>Or kick them all to the Devil.'  11 January 1786
</p>
<br>Etching
<div class="fn value">
<p>Print made by: William Dent
</p>
<dl><dd>Published by: J Nunn</dd></dl></div>
1786<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1786-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-5468">https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-5468</a>