Animals in a wooded landscape with a mountainous background.   Howe, as a lion, chasing (left to right.) the American leaders in the shape of different animals.  The scene is in front of a wooded mound in which is a cave inscribed "Cave of Rebellion.  Resolv'd, nem: con never to run away".  On the mound grows 'Liberty Tree', a tree inscribed "Liberty"; a squirrel sits on a branch scattering papers, inscribed "Paper Currency", "30 dollers", "100 dollers", &amp;c.   An opossum is climbing up the trunk. A roaring lion advances into the picture, his breath inscribed "How"; one paw is on a squared sheet of paper, inscribed "Philadelphia, Delawar ..." The animals he chases are: an ass with a lion's skin on its back, inscribed, "I. Hancock Pres"; a tiger, "Laurens"; an armadillo, "Washington"; two foxes with collars round their necks, inscribed respectively "Adams" and "[A]dam[s]", evidently intended for John and Samuel Adams; a pig or wild boar is "Putnam"; a wolf is "Lee"; a stag whose collar is inscribed "V... D". (? Francis Van Dyke, a New York patriot); a puma and a badger (?) without names. In the air (left) an eagle clutches in beak and claws a rattlesnake inscribed "Independence"; and (right) an owl flies away holding a paper, inscribed "Louis Baboon a Paris". In the background (left) is sketched a ship in full sail. Beneath the design verses are engraved:
<p><br><br>"Impatient of Imperial sway,
<br>The Wild Beasts of America,
<br>In Congress met, disclaim'd allegiance.
<br>And to the Ass profess'd obedience,
<br>With such New Leader; feeling bold,
<br>No wonder they disdained the Old.
<br><br>Resolving roundly, one and all,
<br>In the good cause, to stand or fall,
<br>Then herding, underneath the Tree,
<br>Of Treason, alias Liberty;
<br>They boast the Baboon King's alliance,
<br>And at their own, hurl mad defiance.
<br><br>Their foul revolt, their Monarch hears,
<br>And strait upon the plain appears,
<br>Aloud the British Lion roars,
<br>Aloft the German Eagle soars;
<br>When, Lo! 'midst broken Oaths and curses,
<br>The Rebel rout at once disperses."  20 November 1777
</p>
<br>Etching
1777<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1777-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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