Horrors of the Irish-union; -botheration of poor Pat -or- a whisper across the Channel (BM 1851,0901.955)

Britannia, buxom and beneficent, sits on one side of the 'Irish Channel'; on a smaller piece of ground stands Pat, his hands deep in his coat pockets, looking sideways towards Britannia. She sits with her shield and spear beside a pile of bales of goods and a cornucopia from which pour coins and jewels; she holds out a scroll: 'Union of Security Trade & Liberty'. She looks appealingly towards Pat, her right hand on her breast, one foot trampling on a book inscribed 'Discord' and a venomous snake. Tierney, Fox, and M. A. Taylor look out from behind bushes, gazing fixedly at Pat: Fox says, his hand before his mouth: "Hip! my old Friend Pat! - hip! - a word in your Ear! take care of yourself Pat! - or you'll be ruin'd past Redemption - dont you see that this damn'd Union is only meant to make a Slave of you! - do but look how that cursed Hag is forging Fetters to bind you, & preparing her knapsack to carry off your Property, & to Ravish your whole Country, Man, Woman & Child! - why you are blind sure! - rouse yourself Man! raise all the Lawyers & spur up the Corporations, Fight to the last drop of blood, & part with the last Potatoe to preserve your Property & Independence -" Tierney says "beware Pat", Taylor echoes "beware."

Pat is a sturdy fellow with bare legs; his clothes are ragged, his broken spear lies beside him. Behind (right) is a building in flames. He says: "Plunder & Knapsacks! & Ravishments, & ruin of little Ireland! - why - by St Patrick, its very odd, now! for the old Girl seems to me, to be offering me her Heart & her Hand, & her Trade & the use of her Shelalee to defend me into the bargain! - by Jasus! if you was not my old friend, Charley, I should think you meant to bother me with your Whisperings to put the old Lady in a passion, that we may not buss one another, or be Friends any more." 24 December 1798

Hand-coloured etching