John bull, grotesquely stout, is pressed downwards by a large rolled document which rests on his head inscribed 'revision 3000 resolutions simplefication'. This roll is pressed down by three persons who rest their hands on it, their legs in the air, as if jumping to increase the pressure which has already so much compressed john bull, concertina-fashion, that his arms reach the ground, and his contour is quasi-rectangular. The central figure is pitt, saying, "come, boys, since they say we have well begun, let's bear hard till the whole's comprest in one". The other two are probably rose and steele, the treasury secretaries. The words 'stamps' and 'incidents' are inscribed on john bull's shoulders, 'custom' and 'excise' (crossing each other) on his body. 27 february 1787
etching. Date: 1787. Dimensions: Height: 190 mm; Width: 119 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: William Pitt the Younger. Collection: British Museum. Consolidation of Duties, addressed to John Bull (BM 1868,0808.5625)
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