English commerce is shown as a cow milked by the Dutch, the horns sawn off by the Americans and its milk drunk by the French and the Spanish, while an Englishman wrings his hands at this distressing sight. Etching, ca. 1780.

The subject is described in the Westminster review, 1778, vol. VI, p. 66 as follows: "I. The commerce of Great Britain, represented in the figure of a milch-cow. II. The American Congress sawing off her horns, which are her natural strength and defence: one being already gone, the other just a-going. III. The jolly, plump Dutchman milking the poor tame cow with great glee. IV and V. The Frenchman and Spaniard, each catching at their respective shares of the produce, and running away with bowls brimming full, laughing to one another at their success. VI. The good ship Eagle laid up, and moved at some distance from Philadelphia, without sails or guns, ... all the rest of the fleet invisible, nobody knows where. VII. The two brothers napping it, one against the other, in the City of Philadelphia, out of sight of fleet and army. VIII. The British lion lying on the ground fast asleep, so that a pug-dog tramples upon him, as on a lifeless log: he seems to see nothing, hear nothing, and feel nothing. IX. A free Englishman in mourning standing by him, wringing his hands, casting up his eyes in despondency and despair, but unable to rouse the lion to correct all these invaders of his Royal Prerogative, and his subjects' property."--British Museum, op. cit. no. 5472

The English lion is sleeping next to the Englishman with a dog urinating on him. The composition exists in both directions: in this version, Philadelphia is on the left and the Frenchman is on the right, whereas in the British Museum's no. 5727, the composition is in the opposite direction, as it is in the Dutch and French copies 5726A and 5726B

[France?] : [publisher not identified], [1780?]

1 print : etching, with engraving ; image 17 x 26 cm

Mal lui veut mal lui tourne dit le bon homme Richard. Sujet memorable des revolutions de l'univers. Further lettering within the print

Not in: British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. 5, London 1935 (but similar to nos. 5726A, 5726B and 5726C)

Wellcome Collection 42559i