John Bull, baited by the dogs of excise

A British satire on efforts by William Pitt, George Rose, and some members of Parliament to impose new "Excise" duties on tobacco (cf. Tobacco Excise Bill). The additional tax burden on British citizens is implied by the image of a bull, muzzled and blindfolded, with legs chained to a stump, being harassed by dogs (depicted with heads of members of Parliament). Edward Thurlow, also shown as a dog, registers his opposition to these "New Excise Fetters for John Bull" by urinating on tobacco leaves. Among the members of Parliament depicted are: William Wyndam Grenville, Henry Dundas, Charles Lennox Richmond, Charles Jenkinson, Richard Pepper Arden, Sir Charles Pratt Camden, and possibly Francis Osborne Carmarthen.

pitt william rose george thurlow edward thurlow baron john bull symbolic character bulls great britain dogs taxes tobacco politics and government aquatints etchings satires visual works british john bull john bull excise 1790 18th century aristocracy etching prints library of congress dog

01/01/1790

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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