Effusions of a Pot of Porter,-or-Ministerial Conjurations for Supporting the War. (BM 1851,0901.1005)

A large frothing tankard stands on a cask whose head forms the base of the design. From the froth Pitt emerges as Death on the White Horse (of Hanover, cf. BMSat 8691), giving the effect of a fantastic equestrian statue on a high pedestal. Pitt is in back view; in his right hand is a flaming sword, his left arm is raised, he turns his head slightly to the right, his right leg is extended; he wears his ordinary dress with heavily spurred top-boots. His head is the centre of rays on which his orders are inscribed, above it: 'Bella! \ Horrida \ Bella!' On the left are heavy clouds about to cover the sun, whose features indicate profound sleep; rays to the left are inscribed: 'Sun get thee to Bed! Myself will Light ye World' and 'Ho Rains! - Deluges! - Drown the Harvest!' Slanting rain descends in torrents from the clouds, battering down heads of wheat and obscuring a cottage in the background.
On the right are the winds: four cherubs' heads blowing violent blasts in every direction, two of which are filled with swarms of insects. Rays to the right are inscribed: 'Pestiferous Winds! blast the fruits of the Earth!' and 'Ho! Flies! Grubs, Caterpillars! destroy the Hops!' The blasts strike hops twined round poles on the right of the design.
On the tankard is a large '4' within a circle inscribed 'Pro-Bono-Ministero', and a small 'WP' with the Pitt crest of stork and anchor. On the cask a long lighted pipe inscribed 'Bellendenus' lies across a paper of tobacco inscribed : 'Ruin upon Ruin, or an Essay on the Ways & Means for supporting the cursed War.' The title continues: 'as lately discover'd by Dr P-----r, in the Froth & Fumes of his favorite Beverage - \ "Four Pence a Pot for Porter! - mercy upon us! - ah! its all owing to the War & the cursed Ministry! - have not \ "They ruind the Harvest? - have not They Blighted all the Hops? - Have not They brought on the destructive Rains, \ "that we might be Ruin'd in order to support the War? - & brib'd the Sun not to Shine, that they may Plunder us in the dark?" -
Vide, the Doctor's Reveries, every Day after Dinner.' 29 November 1799

Hand-coloured etching