Foreign Amusements or the British Lion on the Watch (caricature)

In this caricature, a bear stands on the left, padlocking chained British ships to the land below it. A lion on the left watches angrily, low and ready to pounce, while a two-headed eagle, each head adorned with a crown, carries a yellow flag featuring another two-headed eagle and leads a troop of two headed eagles up a hill.

The scene is referring to the rising tensions that led to the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. The bear wears a collar inscribed ‘Paulo’ and represents Russia. The Russian emperor, Paul I, formed ‘The League of Armed Neutrality’ with Denmark, Prussia and Sweden to protect their shipping and cut Britain’s access to essential naval supplies in the Baltic. The bear states, ‘Brother the Eagle, is doing the business by land – so I’ll try a little by water and in the first place I’ll padlock these little articles they look so well in my port – besides Johnny Bull, has enough and to spare of these little articles.’ The two-headed eagle represents Prussia and calls to its followers, ‘March my Companions march – Success to Brother Bruin’. The disgruntled lion, representing Britain,responds, ‘This may be pretty amusement to you Gentlemen – But if once I take a leap amongst you – you’ll find little difference.’

A caricature using similar imagery was printed following Nelson’s success against the Danish Navy at the Battle of Copenhagen. See PAF3927.