A bull, snorting ferociously, has tossed a spaniard high in the air, a shower of coins falls from his pockets. The bull is attempting to charge a frenchman and an american (right), the latter being an indian brave, holding a spear and wearing a girdle and head-dress of feathers; they shrink back in alarm, the american sheltering behind the frenchman. But the bull is checked by a scot in highland dress, who holds its tail saying, "luton, a-ho" (luton being one of the estates of bute). Bute's waist is held by north, who says "bushey park, a ho" (north lived at bushey park, lady north being the ranger of the park), and north's by lord mansfield saying "caen wood a ho" (caen (or ken) wood being the estate bought by mansfield from bute. Cf. Bmsat 4885). In the foreground (left) a dutchman sits grinning on a cask inscribed "hollands gin"; he is about to light his pipe with a burning paper on which is inscribed "? tm", presumably representing the memorials of yorke, see bmsat 5568. Beneath the design is engraved:
"the bull see enrag'd has the spaniard engag'd,
and gave him a terrible toss,
as he mounts up on high, the dollars see fly,
to make the bold britton rejoice,
the yankee & monsieur, at this look quite queer,
for they see that his strength will prevail,
if they'd give him his way, and not with foul play,
still tug the poor beast by the tail. " 4 january 1780
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1780. Dimensions: Height: 250 mm; Width: 353 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield. Collection: British Museum. John Bull triumphant. (BM 1851,0901.22 1)
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