The Bostonians in distress (BM 1877,1013.854 1)

A cage inscribed "Boston" hangs from a branch of "Libert[y] Tree". In it are ten hungry Bostonians being fed with fish by three men standing in a boat, at the side of the peninsula on which the tree stands. The men in the cage are lean with lank hair and of puritanic appearance. Those in the front who have secured fish are thrusting them into their mouths, others with wide open mouths and clasped hands beg to be fed. They crouch forward to take the fish which are thrust between the bars in open boxes at the end of poles. One of the Bostonians stands in the centre with uplifted right hand, holding ou in his left hand a paper inscribed: "They cried unto the Lord in their Trouble & he saved them out of their Distress Psal[m] cvii. 13". He wears a minister's bands, and his expression and open-wide mouth shows that he is making a loud lamentation. On the left a man who is eating a fish held on the end a pole has thrust his hand through the bars, holding a large bundle of neatly folded documents inscribed "Promises". On the right. two men are fighting for a fish, one holds it tight, the other has seized him by the hair and tries to take it from him.
In the open boat at the foot of the tree are two baskets of fish on one of which is a paper inscribed "To------from the Committee of------". Of the three men who stand in the boat holding out the fish, one (left) wears a round hat, jacket, and striped sailor's trousers, another (centre) wears a round hat, apron, and striped jacket; the third wears a broad hat, dark coat, and loose breeches.
In the distance, behind the tree, on the sea-shore are British soldiers; a file of men with muskets over their shoulders drive off a flock of goats, the regimental band (three drums and two fifes) is playing. Cannons pointed at 'Liberty Tree' are in a semicircle on the right. On the sea are four British men-of-war. 19 November 1774

Mezzotint