A design in two compartments:
(left) old-england. A scene of naval and commercial prosperity across the foreground of which runs a line, sloping downwards from left to right where it joins the lower right corner of the design at an angle of (approximately) thirty degrees. The right-angled triangle formed by this line is inscribed 'british constitution. Its basis, the happiness of the people'. From its upper edge on the left rise three columns inscribed respectively 'king', 'lords', and 'commons'. [burke called king, lords, and commons: 'the triple cord, which no man can break', a safeguard against jacobinical levelling. 'letter to a noble lord', 1796, p. 154. ] they are of equal heights, their summits parallel with the slanting base, and connected by a dotted line which is one side of a triangle, the upper edge of which issues horizontally from the left margin. This is inscribed '3° degrees angle of security', and (above the columns) 'trini nomine digne dei'. Beneath the columns are the words (left to right) 'virtue', 'honor', 'loyalty'. The first is corinthian and surmounted by a crown, the second ionic and surmounted by a baron's coronet, the third doric. Above this symbolical basis appears the sea, with ships in full sail. In the foreground, ships with the british flag are at anchor outside a row of docks (left). Between the docks and the sea is a long two-storied building with a dome and a cupola. Across the water are cliffs and hills at the base of which is a coast-town. The sky, though cloudy, suggests fair weather. (right) new-france. An irregular contour sloping from right to left corresponds with the uniform slope of the british constitution. It is inscribed 'democracy or french constitution, its basis, despotism. ' its base is undermined, forming an irregular cave in which lie (right) discarded fragments: 'religion', 'pubk credit', 'monarchy', 'laws', 'trade', 'honor', 'loyalty', 'virtue', 'arts', 'science'. On its summit, in place of the three columns, are (left to right) a guillotine inscribed 'blood'; a naked figure, 'terror', sitting with bowed head under a sword suspended from the cross-piece of a tall post which is surmounted by a cap of liberty; a naked man, bound to an obelisk, symbolizing 'oppression'. The guillotine is surmounted by a skull; blood drips from it down a vertical shaft leading from the hill of the 'constitution' to the cave beneath. Behind towers a high, dark cliff, on the top of which is a row of gibbets, of different heights in order that their horizontal bars may be on the same level. From them hang many tiny corpses wearing bonnets-rouges. A horizontal dotted line inscribed 'liberty' and 'equality' or 'all' on a 'level' (cf. Bmsat 8639), contrasts with the sloping line which links king, lords, and commons in 'old-england'. In the background is a bay in which lie small dismantled vessels; beside it are ruined buildings, some of roman type. Behind are mountains, two tiny gibbets, each with a body, on their summits. The sky is covered with dark, stormy clouds. The dividing line between the two compartments is partly covered by the upright of a gibbet whose two arms project symmetrically into each design. Across the point of contact is a placard: 'roberspierre \ marat, santerre'; the cross-beams are inscribed (left) 'held up to infamy and \ [right] posterity'. From the left beam dangles a placard: 'paines \ rights \ of \ man' (see bmsat 7866, &c); from the right: 'classical lectures on the roman history. ' 12 november 1796. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1796. Dimensions: Height: 350 mm; Width: 635 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. The Contrast, or things as they are. (BM 1868,0808.13700)
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