The British lion. (BM 1868,0808.6631)

An ass (cf. BMSat 9052), heavily overladen, falls forward on its knees, in extremis, its eye closed. Pitt kneels on one knee in profile to the right, offering the ass £1 notes. These are inscribed '[Prom]ise to pay Mr Ab. Newland or Bank the Sum of One Pound. . . Bank of England', or some part of this inscription. The ass's burden consists of bundles piled up to a towering height, the upper part of which is cut off by the margin of the design, but the mass bends forward and is about to collapse with the ass. They are (reading upwards): 'Windows', 'Deaths', 'Foreign Spirits', 'Postage', '2d 10 pr Cent', 'Wills', 'Marriages', 'Iris . . .', 'Births' [see BMSat 6253], 'Commutation Tax' [see BMSat 6634, &c], 'Wine Duty' [see BMSat 8798, &c], 'Br[ic]ks', 'Horses', 'Soap', 'Hats', 'Ist 10 pr Cent', 'Home Spirits', 'Hair Powder' [see BMSat 8629, &c], 'Slates', 'Wine encreased Taxes', 'Silver Plate', 'Perfumery', 'Increased Stamp Duty, Stamp Duty', 'Stage Coaches', 'Stamps', 'Parcels', 'Advertisements', 'Hawkers and Pedlars', 'Malt Duty', 'Transfer Property', 'Stamp', 'Glass', 'Gloves', 'Bills of Exchange', 'Licences', 'Game Act', 'Coffee', 'Cocoa', 'Tea', 'Insurance', 'Probate of Wills', 'Leather', 'Tallow Candles', 'Coals', 'Farm Tax' [cf. BMSat 7159, &c], 'Tea Adi . . . Receipts', 'Paper Add', 'Newspapers Additional', 'Attorneys', 'Dogs' [see BMSat 8794, &c], 'Hops' [?], '450,000,000', 'Turnpikes', 'Tobacco', 'Stamp', 'Muslins', 'Cottons', 'Servants', 'Copies of Deeds', 'Canal Navign', 'Hemp', 'Carts'. The inscriptions become confused near the summit, the words 'New' and 'Add . . .' recurring. 22 May 1797
Hand-coloured etching