About the image

Historical background

This cartoon was created at a time when Britain was at war with France – the Napoleonic Wars. Britain was not only funding its own war effort against Napoleon, but also subsidising the campaigns of Russia and Austria. It had a growing national debt due to this and earlier wars, and trade had also decreased due to ongoing conflicts. The Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger therefore decided to impose income tax, for the first time in Britain, to raise revenue.

Deciphering the image

This cartoon, is one of five created by James Gillray, satirising the imposition of more taxes and the increase of the national debt, and the effect on the British public.

It shows a stormy sea caused by a great flood of new taxes, emanating from the mouth of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Henry Petty (hence the reference to a ‘Petty Fountain’ in the title of the cartoon.) Taxes mentioned include sugar tax, land tax, hop tax, tea tax, candle tax, window tax and more.

Feeding on the taxes, are a group of greedy cormorants, all representing various politicians in the government, gobbling up the money levied for their respective departments.

The figure drowning in the sinking boat, is an allegory of the British people, ‘John Bull’, struggling to pay the dues imposed. On the oar of the boat is written ‘William Pitt’, suggesting that Pitt had been a steady influence, now lost.

About the artist

James Gillray (1756 – 1815) was born and lived in London. He was a caricaturist and printmaker, known for his cartoons which satirised politicians and other members of the ‘establishment’.

Although Gillray did not support either of the two main parties at the time, the Whigs and the Tories, their political machinations and divisions and the backdrop of war and conflict provided great potential for satire. He was concerned however, with the effect of political decisions on ‘John Bull’, the British public and his cartoons reflect this.

His cartoons have left a lasting legacy of the political scene of his time and provide a great source of information for historians.

Acknowledgements

The Met (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/853068)
Online Library of Liberty
Wikipedia