Image: The free-born Briton or a perspective of taxation (BM 1868,0808.5468)

Description: John Bull stands full-face, shouting and stamping with rage, on a block of turf inscribed 'Land-Tax 4s in the pound'. Across his shoulders are two yokes, one inscribed 'National - Debt &c', the other 'Civil-List &c.'; from the four ends hang objects representing taxes. From the left end of the former dangles a figure made up of barrels, bars, &c, the head represented by lighted 'Candles'; it is inscribed 'Excise-Man'; the rope attaching it to the yoke is 'Excise'. Its right hand (left), inscribed 'Auctions', holds out an auctioneer's hammer; the left holds a bottle of Wine, in a stand inscribed 'Plate'. The other portions of the body are inscribed 'Beer', 'Tea', 'Cyder', 'Spirits', 'Malt', 'Tobacco', 'Calico', 'Hides', 'Glass', 'Soap', 'Coffee', 'Chocolate'. Between its legs are the words 'Licenses &c. &c.' The head of a crocodile inscribed 'New Taxes' extends from the lower left corner of the design, directing a barbed tongue at the Excise Man. From the other end of this yoke a bundle of scrolls dangles from a rope inscribed 'Taxes: Maid Servants, Men Servants, Carriages &c, Game, Places, &c &c.' A similar bundle of Stamps hangs from the left end of the Civil-List yoke: 'Medecines', 'Warrants of Attorney', 'Cards & Dice', 'Almanacks', 'Notes', 'Horses', 'Receipts', 'Bonds &c', 'News-papers', 'Pamphlets', '&c. &c.' From the right end of this yoke hangs a pyramid of barrels, sacks, &c, its rope inscribed 'Customs:' they are inscribed respectively, 'Wine', 'Cloth', 'Leather', 'Salt', 'Pepper', 'Coals', 'Sugar', 'Wool', 'Tobacco &c &c.' Two feathers (or leaves) fly upwards, inscribed 'Attornies' (left) and Pawnbrokers (right). Portions of two buildings are visible on the extreme left and right: on the left is a two-storied house, the roof inscribed 'Tile Tax', the front inscribed 'Brick Tax', 'Insurance Tax', 'Window Tax', 'House Tax', its wide blocked-up door or window, 'Shop Tax'. On the right is the corner of a church, inscribed 'Parochial Taxes, Poor's rate, Watch, Lights, Scavenger Pavement &c.' A tombstone (?) resting against it is inscribed 'State Taxes, Births, Christenings, Marriages, Deaths and Burials'. The Briton wears a bandage over one eye inscribed 'Commutation'; his hat is labelled 'Stamp' and 'Turn-pike'. His shouting mouth is inscribed 'Custom' and 'Excise' and these words, together with 'Stamp', are inscribed respectively on his body and limbs. A caterpillar crawls towards him from the right, inscribed 'Marriage Portions'. Beneath the title is etched: 'From top to toe, all o'er stuck full With Taxes grievous, poor John Bull, By acts of state so strictly bound, Pays shillings fourteen in the pound; Should Taxes new the rest surprise, Like Shop-Tax, stamps and laws excise, John must sink beneath the evil, Or kick them all to the Devil.' 11 January 1786 Etching
Title: The free-born Briton or a perspective of taxation
Credit: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0808-5468
Author: Print made by: William Dent Published by: J Nunn
Permission: © The Trustees of the British Museum, released as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No