English sansculottes, wearing bonnets-rouges and without breeches, advance with offerings towards the hideous embodiment of republican liberty, a woman straddling across a pyramid of gin-barrels. Stanhope is the foremost; a model of the 'house of lords' on his head, he offers a 'bible', sceptre, and crown, while a mitre falls from his hand (see bmsat 8442, &c). Next is sheridan, a model of 'the bank' on his head. Fox, next, is by his bulk the most prominent of the band. He carries the 'india house' on his head (as in bmsat 6271); in his left hand he drags along the royal arms, from which the british lion is departing in disgust, cf. Bmsat 6380, &c. Behind him walks whitbread with three barrels on his head inscribed 'whitbreads intire' (cf. Bmsat 8638). Next walks the immensely rich duke of bedford, carrying a staff to which is attached a bill or banknote: '£5 london promise five (erased) noland' [for newland, cf. Bmsat 7839]; from his pocket issues a paper, 'item to remember my own poverty b--f-- d--------'. Last, and on the extreme left, is erskine, carrying on his head a pile of books: 'treason \ law of \ libel \ misprison of [treason]'. The monstrous emblem of the french republic (cf. Bmsat 8442) has a wide grin; serpents writhe in her unkempt hair, spitting out a halo of flames inscribed: 'rapine', 'murder', 'famine,' 'atheism'; other serpents emerge from between her pendent breasts. In her right hand is a bottle of 'gin', in her left a knife; her dress is ragged, with a belt inscribed 'republiq[ue]'. The topmost of the barrels on which she sits is 'hollands gin', from a barrel on the right emerges a bewildered-looking dutchman. Her right foot rests on a skull. At her feet lies justice, decapitated, her (broken) sword beside her, while stanhope kicks the scales which she has dropped. Above the design: 'the british delegates respectful application for peace'. Beneath the title is etched: 'dedicated to those lovers of french freedom who would thus debase their country. ' 10 february 1794. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1794. Dimensions: Height: 265 mm; Width: 385 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford. Collection: British Museum. A peace offering to the genius of liberty and equality. (BM 1868,0808.6336)
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