Political-ravishment, or the old lady of Threadneedle-street in danger!, James Gillray, 1797

The 'old lady' is a thin old harridan, dressed entirely in 'one' pound notes, and seated on an iron-studded treasure-chest inscribed 'bank of england', fastened by two heavy padlocks. She shrieks and throws up her skinny arms at pitt's advances: he has taken a long stride towards her from the right, his right hand round her waist; his left dips into a cavernous pocket and takes out guineas. Their profiles almost touch, and he appears about to kiss her. She shrieks: "murder! - murder! - rape! - murder! - o you villain! - what have i kept my honor untainted so long, to have it broke up, by you at last ? - o murder! - rape! - ravishment! - ruin! - ruin! - ruin!!!" pitt's hat lies on the ground; beneath it is a scroll headed 'loans'. A lightly sketched arc of the rotunda of the bank forms a background. 22 may 1797 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1797. Dimensions: Height: 257 mm; Width: 364 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: William Pitt the Younger. Collection: British Museum. Political-ravishment, or the old lady of Threadneedle-street in danger! (BM J,3.68 2)