Figures representing the five countries who were at war. A tall dutchman stands looking up with a face of despair, in his left hand he holds out a paper inscribed, "eustatia lost, oh! oh!" he says,
"i shall die, i'm undone!
my best hope is now gone!"
a laughing english sailor (left) standing on his right holds a small bottle inscribed "gin" to his nose, saying,
"high & mighty's [an allusion to 'hogen mogen', "the high mightiness", or the states general of the united provinces] your grief,
smell this for relief. "
in his right hand he holds a netted purse taken from the dutchman. On the right stand the other enemy powers: spain, in slashed doublet, cloak, feathered hat, and top-boots, is reading a newspaper 'gaze', ['london gazette'] and sayings
"if this news is true,
it will make us all rue. "
behind him are france (left) and america (right). France holds up his hands with an expression of alarm, saying,
"st eustatia by gar,
vas de storehouse of war. "
america, a slim youth, the most insignificant of the five, is saying,
"america now,
to old england must bow. " 9 april 1781
etching. Date: 1781. Dimensions: Height: 229 mm; ; Width: 190 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. The Duchman in the dumps. (BM 1868,0808.4754)
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