Print, satirical print, William Hogarth, 1763

Satire suggesting that lord bute has offered john wilkes the alternative of the governorship of canada or imprisoment in the tower of london. Wilkes and bute sit close together, bute offering wilkes a small stick on which is written, "kaw jack have caanada or to the tower" and a handful of coins. Devil's wings and a tail emerge from behind bute's chair; while two tiny scottish figures from james macpherson's epic poems, "temora" and "fingal" climb up his arm; three dead dogs float on the sea behind him. On the left, earl temple looks on lamenting "o! liberty o! my country". Twelve etched lines of verse describe the scene, ending with wilkes rejecting bute, "ill be true to old england, the whigs, and the king!" c. 1763 etching. Date: 1763. Dimensions: Height: 248 mm; Width: 279 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: John Wilkes. Collection: British Museum. Print, satirical print (BM 1868,0808.12417)