France. Britain. Freedom. Slavery (BM 1851,0901.468)

A design in two compartments. On the left the triumph of Necker in a land of 'Freedom', in the other that of Pitt in a land of 'Slavery'.
Necker (full face), seated in an armchair is carried on the shoulders of distinguished personages, who wave their hats. He holds in his right hand the staff and cap of 'Liberty', in his left a royal crown. He is stout and benevolent. Above his head floats a laurel wreath, irradiated, inscribed 'Necker', and adding a touch of absurdity. Under his feet are a chain and an instrument of torture resembling a harrow. The naval officer (left) wearing a star, -who holds one pole of the chair, is labelled 'Orleans'; his companion, in regimentals, is probably Lafayette; both wave their hats. In the background is a cheering crowd and the massive but broken stone wall of the 'Bastile'.
On the right Pitt, lean and arrogant, stands in profile to the left on a royal crown which bends under his weight (as in BMSat 7478). In his right hand is a banner on which are instruments of torture: a narrow, shackles, and scourges; in his left hand, which rests on his hip, are a headsman's axe and chains, the other ends of which are attached to persons who kneel humbly behind him, the most prominent of whom is the King. Other chains are attached to artisans, &c, who kneel abjectly before him. In the background are (left) a gallows from which hang seven nooses, and (right) a high scaffold on which stands a headsman with an axe. From Pitt's pocket projects a large tobacco-pipe inscribed 'Excise'. 28 July 1789

Hand-coloured etching