The Political Cocks (caricature)

In this hand-coloured etching, two fighting cocks with human faces stand atop cliffs, facing each other ready to fight. The cockerel on the left depicts Napoleon with red, white and blue feathers resembling the French tricolour and long spurs curving behind him. He leans forward and shouts, “Eh Master Billy, if I could but take a flight over this Brook I would soon stop your Crowing, I would knock you off that Perch, I swear by Mahmoet, the Pope and all the Idols I have ever Worshiped” to his opponent. On the right, British Prime Minister, William Pitt, opens his wings and stands up proudly on a crown, doubling his size, with red, orange and yellow feathers. Pitt replies, “Tuck a roo _ too that you never can do!!!” Between them, a fleet of ships flying British ensigns stand off from the English coast.

This caricature was published a year after the Treaty of Amiens came into effect. The treaty was regarded a ‘Definitive Treaty of Peace’ to end the French Revolutionary Wars. However, the peace was short lived as relations in Europe deteriorated again, particularly between France and Britain. Fearing his Navy would not survive against the Royal Navy, Napoleon Bonaparte sent a direct inquiry to the Minister of Marine, on 13 March 1803, asking how to inflict maximum damage on English trade in the event of war. Five days later, King George III requested £10,000 from parliament to strengthen military defences, as represented here with the crown boosting William Pitt’s position. Tensions continued to rise and the Treaty collapsed before Britain declared war on France in May 1803, marking the start of twelve years of fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.