Post Horse Duty, designed and executed, by way of specimen, after the manner of the French, by Monsieur Le Premier, William Dent, 1787

Pitt, dressed as the frenchman of caricature, rides (right to left) a snorting horse whose fore-legs are inscribed 'oppres \ sion', the hind legs 'influ \ ence'. In his right hand is a sabre inscribed 'authority', with which he threatens liberty and property, a woman and man (right) who have fallen under his horse's feet. Liberty's staff is broken and the cap of 'liberty' is about to fall. Property, a stout man, looks gloomily at his wig and hat, both inscribed 'property', which have fallen from his head. Pitt's clothes are patterned with fleurs-de-lis, his large feathered hat has a large favour inscribed 'farmer general', his bag-wig is inscribed 'farming budget'. His horse's streaming tail is inscribed 'en la rose je fleurie', the family motto of the duke of richmond, cf. Bmsat 7156. A cloud of dust and guineas rises from the horse's hind legs. A crowd of followers greedily collects the coins: richmond in the forefront holds out a large hat, next him a scot, clearly dundas, holds out his kilt. The men behind are much caricatured and unrecognizable. In front of pitt's horse (left) is a signpost, 'to despotism'. Above it is a placard inscribed, 'to would be farmers. By auction at the rose & lilly whitehall the british c------n [constitution] in french lots. Nb purchasers must find two staunch tories as security for their good behavior. W. P. ' 30 april 1787 etching. Date: 1787. Dimensions: Height: 210 mm; Width: 357 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: William Pitt the Younger. Collection: British Museum. Post Horse Duty, designed and executed, by way of specimen, after the manner of the French, by Monsieur Le Premier (BM 1868,0808.5525)