The Poor Blacks going to their Settlement, William Dent, 1787

The prince of wales and his adherents are travestied as black men; the prince stands in a doorway inscribed 'brookes rectifier of spirits', which is represented as a debtor's prison: the heads of george hanger and burke are seen through a barred window on the left outside which hangs a basket inscribed 'pray remember us poor blacks'. Both are naked, except for hanger's accustomed cocked hat (cf. Bmsat 6924), and burke's biretta (cf. Bmsat 6026). The prince wears a girdle of leaves, a helmet feathered like the head-dress of a red indian, but decorated with the triple ostrich plume, and his ribbon and star. He holds out his hands in consternation at the approach of fox and north (as a woman), their arms interlaced, their faces contorted with grief (cf. Bmsat 6193, &c). Fox's hat is inscribed 'carlo crusoe'; on his breast is a placard: 'we were unfortunately cast away in the british channel on board the portland east indiaman' (an allusion to the defeat of the coalition on fox's india bill, and probably an imitation of the placards of begging seamen). Their scanty garments are ragged; from north's garter ribbon hangs a placard: 'ruined by the american war'. Behind them is another couple with arms interlaced: lord george gordon with a black man who carries a primitive stringed instrument, his cap inscribed 'man friday'. He is perhaps intended for sheridan. Gordon flourishes a paper inscribed 'defence of the blacks by lo[rd] g------g------' and says "by all the glories of mischief they have no right to send us to africa". At the end of the procession thurlow with a raised stick chases a black man wearing a cap inscribed 'purveyor', who resembles weltje, except that he is short and fat, and says, with clasped hands, "o! oh! - bless your heart massa beetle-brow - if you no lick apoor neger man he'll pimp for you. " 12 january 1787 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1787. Dimensions: Height: 215 mm; Width: 385 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. The Poor Blacks going to their Settlement (BM 1868,0808.5603)