Destruction of the French Gun-Boats -or- Little Boney & his Friend Talley in High Glee, 22 November 1803
Scope and Contents
Artist: James Gillray. Published: Hannah Humphrey. Napoleon sits on the shoulder of Talleyrand gleefully peering through a large rolled document at the Channel, where the French flotilla is being destroyed by shells from British ships. Talleyrand stands behind the gun embrasures of a fortress on a cliff at whose base the gunboats are foundering. He wears a general's uniform with a long cloak; the crown of his cocked hat is a bishop's mitre. He holds Bonaparte's legs, grinning delightedly. Napoleon's document is 'Talleyrand's plan for Invading Great Britain'; he says: "O my dear Talley, what a glorious sight! - we've worked up Johnny Bull into a fine passion! - my good fortune never leaves me! - I shall now get rid of a hundred- Thousand French Cut Throats whom I was so afraid of! - O my dear Talley, this beats the Egyptian Poisoning hollow! - Bravo, Johnny! - pepper 'em, Johnny!" On a flag (left) behind the pair are a skull and cross-bones, the skull looking down with a sinister stare. On the horizon is the English coast, with Dover Castle on a cliff. Description from the British Museum.
Dates
- Creation: 22 November 1803
Conditions Governing Access
Physical item available by appointment in our Reading Room
Extent
1.0 Item(s)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
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