The Yankey Torpedo (caricature)

This hand-coloured print crudely illustrates Jack Tar presenting his behind to the exploding ‘Yankey Torpedo’ made up of a green sea-monster, the Devil and Death. On the right, the Devil rides the monster, clutching the American flag and pointing ahead. He demands, ‘Grapple him Citizen and I’ll play one of my Infernal capers under his Bottom.’ Death, a skeleton, jumps from the monster’s mouth amid an explosion of weapons and fire, arms and fists poised to fight. He adds, ‘I’ll tip you a Yankey Torpedo.’ Jack Tar is stood opposite, aboard a ship labelled ‘British Oak’ with rigging visible behind him on the right. He is wearing a hat with ribbons that read ‘True Blue Dreadnaught’, and he leads on a sword inscribed ‘British steel’ as he responds, ‘Blowup my hull indeed – you may kiss my ---- tafferal – Mr Yankey doodle - “Shiver me – I’ll tip you a taste of the Shannon and send you down to old Davy.’

The scene demonstrates Britain’s reaction to America’s use of torpedoes in the War of 1812. Robert Fulton had spent many years developing the weapon, which was finally deployed against a British blockading fleet in New York in 1813. The method was extremely powerful, and the Royal Navy disapproved of the weapon for undermining the accepted rules of naval conflict.

Jack Tar refers to HMS ‘Shannon’, which had captured USS ‘Chesapeake’ that June in the bloodiest action of the War.

In the lower right corner, as part of the inscription of the print, is marked the ‘Price One Shilling Coloured’.