Design in an oval. A satire on tithes and the clergy. A tall, thin military officer, wearing a hat, gorget, and sword, carries on his shoulders an enormously fat parson dressed in gown and bands. The officer, who walks from loeft to right, his head in profile to the right, is saying, "i am an independent country gentleman & coll of militia". The parson, with a complacent expression, holds over his right shoulder a scourge with three lashes, one, ending in a snake's head, is inscribed "pious fraud", the second is "english statutes", the third, ending in beads and a cross, is "popish canons". Under his left arm he holds a basket labelled "tithes", in it are visible chickens and a sucking-pig. Behind the parson walks a dejected-looking farmer in a smock-frock, holding his hat in one hand, a branch in the other; he says, "we farmers have our bodys eat up, for the good of our souls". Behind the farmer (left) are sheaves of corn, in one of which is a branch similar to that which he holds. The landscape background is mountainous. After the title is inscribed, "the lord opened the mouth of the ass &c. " 10 april 1783
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1783. Dimensions: Height: 244 mm; Width: 320 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. Balaam, - or the majesty of the people. (BM 1851,0901.133)
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