File:British Tars, Towing the Danish Fleet into Harbour (NAPOLEON 158).jpeg

After the Russian defeat at Friedland, the secret Tilsit treaties between Napoleon and Russia and Denmark sought to isolate Britain. The foreign secretary, Canning, guessed the substance of these secret treaties and suspected that Napoleon would take over the Danish fleet. Canning sent a British naval mission to Copenhagen to demand custody of the fleet and offer an alliance and annual payment for the ships. The Danes refused, at which time the British attacked Copenhagen. Denmark quickly capitulated and gave up not only the ships but the naval stores as well.

The drawing, while generally in favor of Canning's action, illustrates the bitter controversy that broke out in Britain about its justice and expediency. Opinions ranged from unqualified approval to skepticism to outright opposition. In the print, Hawkesbury (leader of the House of Lords) and Castlereagh (British war minister) row a ship's boat named after recently deceased William Pitt. Tow-ropes, held by roguish-looking Canning, pull the fleet of Danish ships. A leviathan (a mythical sea monster used in the Old Testament to symbolize evil) anticipates political reaction by influential members of the Opposition: William Grenville, the head on the right, who was foreign secretary under Pitt, spouts a cascade titled Opposion Clamour; Charles Grey (Canning's predecessor and enemy), spouts Detraction; the Earl of St. Vincent, an admiral who led an expedition to strengthen Portugal the previous year, spouts Envy.

On the far left is the city of Copenhagen, isolated and in flames. In the distance, the countries of Europe are also in flames. Napoleon flies into a rage, losing his hat in the process and dropping a document titled "Projet pour Subjuguer la mer" (Plan to control the sea). John Bull watches from his seat next to the pub, drinking a foaming tankard of ale and waving his hat.

Reference source: George #10762

• Subjects (LCSH): Political cartoons; History--Caricatures & cartoons; Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821; Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815; Pitt, William, 1759-1806; Canning, George, 1770-1827; Liverpool, Charles Jenkinson, Earl of, 1727-1808; Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822; Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834; Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1729-1807; Copenhagen (Denmark)