Hibernia, seated, holds on her lap fox (left) and north, whom she is suckling (right). She says, "bless the little innocents!" behind her (left) britannia lies on the ground, her shield and spear beside her, hibernia's foot resting on the shield which is inscribed 'equal participation'. At hibernia's feet burke kneels in profile to the right, holding a staff inscribed 'faction'; he earnestly addresses a man whose body is partly composed of an irish harp inscribed 'sedition'; he is in profile to the left, horns sprout from his forehead; his resemblance to the bishop of deny in bmsat 6654 is marked. Fox, north, and burke are naked infants. Britannia says:
"sister, this treach'ry you may have to rue,
beware, you may yourself with me undo. "
the bishop ('sedition') says:
"proceed ye precious imps! ye politicians good!
who first cri'd that poor ireland must have cloaths and food!
now bawl that britian's ruin'd with as fair a face,
to get ministers out and your dear selves in place. "
beneath the title is etched:
'these sweet babes by britannia quite cast out,
at length have found a parent brave and stout. They'll good children prove, she a fond mother,
because, hence they may assist each other. ' 21 march 1784 or 1785
etching. Date: between 1784 and 1785. Dimensions: Height: 273 mm; Width: 200 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edmund Burke. Collection: British Museum. Hibernia in the Character of Charity (BM 1868,0808.5189)
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