Political Parachute, a coalition experiment, William Dent, 1785

Fox and north descend by a parachute from a balloon, only the lower part of which is visible; it is inscribed 'carlo khan's east india bill ascended decr 1783'. The parachute, descending from a short rope hanging from the balloon, is in the form of an umbrella with an anchor, emblem of hope, attached to it by three ropes. Fox (left) and north (right) stand on the fluke of the anchor, supporting themselves by its stock and by the side-ropes which attach it to the covering of the parachute. The stock is inscribed, 'this gleam of hope with messrs flood, gratten & co's compliments to the coalition'. Immediately beneath them is a seat inscribed 'treasury bench', to which fox points with a satisfied smile. North also looks down smiling. The parachute is inscribed 'irish propositions'. Across the lower part of the print is etched: 'death blow to their hopes. The loss of public confidence, not restored by misleading the public opinion, and overthrowing the propositions by gross inconsistency. The opposition in the british parliament contended that the propositions would ruin the manufacturers of this country. The same party insisted, in ireland, that the propositions would ruin the manufacturers of that country. ' 8 september 1785 etching. Date: 1785. Dimensions: Height: 348 mm; Width: 247 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Right Hon Henry Flood. Collection: British Museum. Political Parachute, a coalition experiment (BM 1868,0808.5452)