United Irishmen upon Duty (BM 1868,0808.6751 1)

A night scene with a waning moon. United Irishmen burn and plunder. On the left is the corner of a farm house with flames pouring from a casement window. A ruffian wearing a military coat, tricolour cockade and green branch in his hat, seizes the burly farmer by the neck-cloth and raises a sword to strike; the dripping blade is inscribed 'Liberty', and a mastiff lies dead beside him. Immediately behind, in a doorway, another ruffian seizes a woman round the waist; an infant lies on the ground. A man holding a dagger is disappearing into the house, another comes out with a bundle on his head. Behind are the flames of the burning house. Over the thatched lintel is a dove-cote from which birds are escaping. Three other men hurry off laden with plunder towards a road which leads to a camp flying a tricolour flag inscribed 'Equality'. The nearest (right) holds a sow on his back by the hind legs; her little pigs run after her; a goose hangs from his belt. A bare-legged man with a dagger in his belt pushes a wheelbarrow laden with trunks. In the background other plunderers proceed along the road; a man prods a cow with his spear. The road is crowded with sheep. In the distance is a burning town. A companion print to BMSat 9229. 12 June 1798

Hand-coloured etching