John bull stands full-face, shouting and stamping with rage, on a block of turf inscribed 'land-tax 4s in the pound'. Across his shoulders are two yokes, one inscribed 'national - debt &c', the other 'civil-list &c. '; from the four ends hang objects representing taxes. From the left end of the former dangles a figure made up of barrels, bars, &c, the head represented by lighted 'candles'; it is inscribed 'excise-man'; the rope attaching it to the yoke is 'excise'. Its right hand (left), inscribed 'auctions', holds out an auctioneer's hammer; the left holds a bottle of wine, in a stand inscribed 'plate'. The other portions of the body are inscribed 'beer', 'tea', 'cyder', 'spirits', 'malt', 'tobacco', 'calico', 'hides', 'glass', 'soap', 'coffee', 'chocolate'. Between its legs are the words 'licenses &c. &c. ' the head of a crocodile inscribed 'new taxes' extends from the lower left corner of the design, directing a barbed tongue at the excise man. From the other end of this yoke a bundle of scrolls dangles from a rope inscribed 'taxes: maid servants, men servants, carriages &c, game, places, &c &c. ' a similar bundle of stamps hangs from the left end of the civil-list yoke: 'medecines', 'warrants of attorney', 'cards & dice', 'almanacks', 'notes', 'horses', 'receipts', 'bonds &c', 'news-papers', 'pamphlets', '&c. &c. ' from the right end of this yoke hangs a pyramid of barrels, sacks, &c, its rope inscribed 'customs:' they are inscribed respectively, 'wine', 'cloth', 'leather', 'salt', 'pepper', 'coals', 'sugar', 'wool', 'tobacco &c &c. '
two feathers (or leaves) fly upwards, inscribed 'attornies' (left) and pawnbrokers (right). Portions of two buildings are visible on the extreme left and right: on the left is a two-storied house, the roof inscribed 'tile tax', the front inscribed 'brick tax', 'insurance tax', 'window tax', 'house tax', its wide blocked-up door or window, 'shop tax'. On the right is the corner of a church, inscribed 'parochial taxes, poor's rate, watch, lights, scavenger pavement &c. ' a tombstone (?) resting against it is inscribed 'state taxes, births, christenings, marriages, deaths and burials'. The briton wears a bandage over one eye inscribed 'commutation'; his hat is labelled 'stamp' and 'turn-pike'. His shouting mouth is inscribed 'custom' and 'excise' and these words, together with 'stamp', are inscribed respectively on his body and limbs. A caterpillar crawls towards him from the right, inscribed 'marriage portions'. Beneath the title is etched:
'from top to toe, all o'er stuck full
with taxes grievous, poor john bull,
by acts of state so strictly bound,
pays shillings fourteen in the pound;
should taxes new the rest surprise,
like shop-tax, stamps and laws excise,
john must sink beneath the evil,
or kick them all to the devil. ' 11 january 1786
etching. Date: 1786. Dimensions: Height: 252 mm; Width: 352 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. The free-born Briton or a perspective of taxation (BM 1868,0808.5468 1)
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