Lord george gordon stands between two dutch burghers of the party of patriots, representing members of the states general at amsterdam, who are about to throw clubs at a pile of balls (oranges) on the opposite side of a piece of water. Gordon holds a firebrand inscribed 'no popery'; in his left hand are three papers inscribed respectively 'to the french amba[ssador]', 'to the prussian minister', and 'to my dear cousin g------l g------n'. He says, "who throws at my yellow cock ? - confusion - why thus hesitate - knock one down you have them all" (an allusion to the old practice of throwing clubs at cocks on shrove tuesday). The dutchman aims his club, which is inscribed 'faction', the other stands behind gordon, smoking and waiting his turn. The ground is intersected by strips of water representing canals. On the farther side of a canal stands an officer with an enormous sabre whose hat is inscribed 'prussia'; he addresses the patriots, saying, "if you dare to spill one drop of the orange juice, our tall regiment shall squeeze your high mightiness's [hogan mogan] guts out - dam 'me". He is evidently frederick william ii, brother of the princess of orange. In the distance (right) a foppish frenchman, his hands in a muff, says, "ah, ah, by gar, de french politics vos make de countries conquer demselves". Beneath the title is etched:
'"------o, mischief! thou art swift"
"to enter in the thoughts of desperate men. " shakspere. ' 30 january 1787
etching. Date: 1787. Dimensions: Height: 250 mm; Width: 348 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Frederick William II, King of Prussia. Collection: British Museum. Civil War, or Lord Lunatic encouraging the Hollanders to knock down the Orange Party (BM 1868,0808.5614)
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