Picturesque View of the State of the Nation
Engraving 
C. 1778 
6" x 8 1/2" 
 
A Political Satire from 1778: British Commerce Under Attack


Depicted in a political cartoon from the Westminster Magazine in February 1778, British commerce is portrayed as a helpless cow being taken advantage of by various enemies. The Englishman wrings his hands in despair, while the British lion slumbers in the background. Meanwhile, a Dutchman milks the cow, an American saws off one of its horns, and a Frenchman and a Spaniard stand by with bowls of milk. The cartoon was widely reprinted during that period.