File:Merlin (BM 1868,0808.10055).jpg

English: A sequel to BMSat 4957. Merlin (left) points with his wand to a procession of the sovereigns of Europe which circles round him, moving from left to right. He stands within a circle bordered with cabalistic signs, a globe stands beside him; he wears long robes and his high cap is decorated with a skull and cross-bones. First walks a sovereign with three heads, the centre head wearing a crown, between a woman's head with ass's ears and a man's head with stag's horns. This appears to represent the king of Denmark, deceived by his wife and Struensee, an episode which belongs to 1772, see BMSats 4945,4946,4950,4956. Next walks a crowned personage carrying a halter in his right hand, and in the left a 'Book of Prayer' which he is reading. Perhaps Frederick, called the Hereditary Prince, son of the Dowager Queen of Denmark, who had conspired against Struensee and had shown great vindictiveness towards him.

Next walks Catharine of Russia in a furred robe. Her right hand is on the neck of an oriental who kneels beside her, whom she appears to be strangling; another oriental wearing a jewelled turban stands beside her clasping his hands in despair. With her left hand she holds a monkey by the arm. The two orientals probably represent the Grand Signior of Turkey (in allusion to the Russo-Turkish War, 1768-74, and Pugachoff, the Cossack who led a rising against Catharine (1773-5).
Next is a sovereign whose crown is breaking, evidently Stanislaus II of Poland. Behind him walk two sovereigns in consultation, one holding a wolf or dog on a leash, and in his left hand a mask; the other holds an open map inscribed "Map [of Po]land": probably the Emperor Joseph II and Frederick II of Prussia discussing the Partition of Poland. Behind them walks a prince wearing a feathered hat who appears absorbed in his snuffbox (perhaps the king of Spain). Then comes a sovereign wearing a crown and a long dressing-gown rubbing his eyes as if sleepy. He is perhaps William V, Stadholder of Holland, who became sleepy after the slightest exertion; he was not, however, a sovereign prince.[Gustavus III of Sweden appears to be absent from the procession, thougn view of his recent coup d'itat he might be expected to figure prominently.] After him walks the king of France, indicated by the fleur-de-lys which decorates his crown and his robes; he holds an oval miniature, the portrait of a woman, probably intended for Mme. du Barry. After him walks George III, carrying an infant, whom he is feeding (Prince Augustus Frederick, born Jan. 1773). Last in the procession is a countryman with a hay-rake, smoking a pipe, and wearing the hat shaped like an inverted flower-pot which indicates Holland in caricature.
In the background on a hill sits the Pope wearing his triple crown; his papal chair is tottering and from his hand, raised as if in alarm, falls a paper inscribed "Jesuits & treac[hery]". 1 January 1774

Etching