File:Poor Bull & his burden-or the political murraion-!!- (BM 1868,0808.8474).jpg

English: A bull, John Bull, lies on the ground to which he is stapled by heavy chains, one attached to a muzzle inscribed 'Gagging Bill'. He is weighed down by a pyramid of men piled high above his back, topped by a huge royal crown on which weights are placed. Castlereagh, in profile to the right, sits astride the bull's head, grasping the wide horns which are tipped to prevent mischief. Behind him sits Sidmouth, and, supported on both their heads, is little Vansittart, in his Chancellor of the chequer's gown, with a money-bag for head inscribed 'Budget'. Six tax-collectors, each with ink-bottle suspended from his coat and grasping a paper inscribed 'Tax's', sit in a row behind Sidmouth. All, like Castlereagh, wear jack-boots with heavy spurs, and are gashing the bull's flank, drawing streams of blood. The bull's hind-quarters and tail (left) are covered by a chain of seven men wearing the striped coats and hunting-caps of royal grooms; the foremost grasps the waist of the last tax-collector. Above the row of tax-collectors and Ministers (eight, without Vansittart) are seven soldiers seated on the heads of those below. The first (right) is a lancer, next a Life Guard, next a hussar, then three infantrymen, and last, facing left, a second lancer. They hold respectively lance, sabre, or bayoneted musket. These soldiers support on their helmets six officers of high rank or courtiers, the foremost having a gouty leg. On the shoulders of these six are five men, three with ribbons or star, the first and fifth holding a wand of office, indicating a court appointment, and the first three holding a document inscribed respectively 'Sinecure', 'Pension', 'Place'. They support on their heads and shoulders a row of five fat and drink-blotched parsons, the first of whom, as a church magistrate, see No. 13281, &c., holds a constable's staff, and is probably Ethelston. On their heads sit three bloated bishops, one full-face, being probably Manners-Sutton, see No. 13276. On the tips of their mitres rests the heavy crown. On the ground, facing the bull, stands his executioner, Wellington, in uniform, with the apron, over-sleeves, and steel of a butcher. He stands rigidly holding an axe erect. The human pyramid is flanked by clouds. Below the title: '—"And the land stank—so numerous was the fry."— [on the Egyptian plague of frogs, quoted also in No. 13295] —What will become of these Vermin, if the Bull should Rise—?!!!!!!!!!!!'

Plate numbered 375.
15 December 1819.

Hand-coloured etching