Billy's Blossoms addressed to the addressers, William Dent, 1789

Pitt stands erect, each hand in a large sack full of coins which leans against him. From his head extend branches covered with large flowers which fill more than half the design. A blast inscribed 'vox populi' is directed at them causing their leaves to flutter to the ground. The stomach of pitt, who is very thin, is inscribed 'poverty'; the sacks are (left) 'fruit for family use' and (right) 'fruit, 60,000 annual'. The branches are inscribed 'pride', 'presumption', 'obstinacy', and 'petulance'. The flowers are: 'fortifications' (bmsat 6921, &c), 'tax on maids' (bmsat 6794, &c), 'tax on farmers' (cf. Bmsat 6672), 'coalition with dundas', 'manchester fustian duty', 'stamp duties' (bmsat 6914, &c), 'tax on windows', 'commutation' (bmsat 6634, &c), 'test act' (cf. Bmsat 7628, &c), 'french treaty' (a fleur-de-lis) (bmsat 6995, &c), 'irish propositions' (bmsat 6785, &c), 'standing army', 'four regiments', 'declaratory bill' (bmsat 7280, &c), 'a landman first lord building at the admiralty' (chatham had succeeded howe, cf. Bmsat 7482), 'shop tax' (bmsat 6798, &c), 'reform neglected' (bmsat 6478, &c), 'scrutiny' (bmsat 6553, &c), 'excise law', 'peerage' (bmsat 6631, &c), 'dissolution' (bmsat 6476, &c), 'flag promotion' (bmsat 7126, &c), 'regency' (bmsat 7382, &c), 'patronage', 'india controul' (bmsat 7152, &c). Some of the flowers have formed fruit, some of which has fallen to the ground: 'pension', with leaves inscribed 'watson's windfall' (bmsat 6965, &c), and 'pension', the leaves inscribed 'carleton's windfall' (ibid. ) other fruit on the ground is 'sinecures', 'gratuities', and '12,000'. Beneath the title is etched 'addressed to the addressers'. 8 january 1789 etching. Date: 1789. Dimensions: Height: 251 mm; Width: 171 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: William Pitt the Younger. Collection: British Museum. Billy's Blossoms addressed to the addressers (BM J,4.26)