A satire on the appointment of pigot to supersede rodney, one of a set of four, see bmsat 5992, 5997, 6001. Rodney stands on the seashore, with a melancholy expression, his right hand holding britannia's spear, his left neptune's trident. Neptune rises from the sea on the right and holds out to rodney his trident, saying, “accept my son the empire of the main”. Britannia (left), seated on the globe, holds out her spear to rodney, saying, “go generous gallant rodney, - go on, pursue, maintain your country's noble cause”. In her right hand, which rests on her shield, she holds an olive branch. The french flag lies on the ground under the feet of rodney and britannia, the british lion, standing behind rodney, tears at it with his claws. On the right behind neptune is a small open boat, sailing towards rodney; it is composed of playing-cards, a knave of hearts acts as a sail. From the mast flies a pennant on which are two dice; below it, on the mast, is a dice-box. A small figure in naval uniform, with a pig's head, stands in the stern looking towards rodney through a telescope. This is 'admiral pig', admiral hugh pigot, who had been appointed by the new ministry to supersede rodney, see bmsat 5992. On a point of land in the distance on the right stands fox, a minute figure with a fox's head; he holds out a paper inscribed “i. O. U. 17000”, and is saying, “does the devonshire member want reasons - £17000 contains cogent ones”. This is an allusion to the questions asked in the house of commons by rolle, m. P. For devon, on 22 may, on the superseding of rodney in his command. Fox answered “that for what appeared to him wise and prudent reasons he had advised his sovereign to adopt such a measure, and though he should have such reasons as all the world should approve he never would give any other answer. For though he was an enemy to the crown, he would always stand forward to support its just and constitutional prerogative”. 'parl. Hist. ' xxiii. 53, 54. See also wraxall, 'memoirs', 1884, ii. 328-30. 4 june 1782
etching. Date: 1782. Dimensions: Height: 240 mm; Width: 330 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney, Hugh Pigot, Charles James Fox, Britannia. Collection: British Museum. Rodney invested - or - Admiral Pig on a cruize. (BM 1868,0808.4847)
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