Dundas as a colossus (a shah or bashaw of the indies) straddles across the ocean, one foot on the roof of the india house (left), the other on a piece of land on the extreme right representing bengal. In the sea below his outstretched legs are several ships in full sail making for bengal; the nearest is inscribed 'troops'. Dundas wears a turban and crown, a cloak and oriental tunic with a kilt, bare knees and tartan stockings. His turban is inscribed 'charged mr f------with a design to shift the crown from the monarch's to his own head. Mr d speech'. His arms are extended above his head pointing to, and nearly grasping, a sun in the upper left corner of the design and to a crescent moon in the upper right corner. Both have faces which look down with dismayed surprise at dundas, who looks towards the sun. Beneath the title is inscribed:
'"one foot in leadenhall street, & the other in the province of bengal. " vide mr d------s speech. ' 7 march 1788
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1788. Dimensions: Height: 406 mm; Width: 258 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Collection: British Museum. DUN-SHAW, (BM 1851,0901.393 1)
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