America to her Mistaken Mother (no title)

DateMay 12, 1794

Publisher Matthew Darly (ca. 1720 - 1780)

MediumBlack and white etching

DimensionsOH: 14 3/4" x OW: 10 3/4"; Plate H: 13 3/4" x W: 9 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1960-66

DescriptionThe lower margin reads: "Published 12.th May, 1794 by LAURIE & WHITTLE, N.o 53, Fleet Street, London"

This is America's reply to "Britannia To America”. The Indian princess, now the most frequently used symbol for America, holds in one hand the newly designed thirteen-stripe flag and in the other a fleur-de-lys representing the recently formed alliance with France. The letter reads:

(America) (toe) her (miss)taken (moth)er.
(Yew) s(eye)lly (old woman) t(hat (yew) have sent a (lure)
(toe) us is very (plain) (toe) draw our at(ten)t(eye)on
[attention] from our re(awl) (eye)ntrests (butt) we are
determ(eye)n'd (toe) ab(eye)de by our own ways of
th(eye)nk(eye)ng (Ewer) (five) (child)ren (yew) have sent
(toe) us sh(awl) (bee) treated as V(eye)s(eye)tors, & safely
sent home aga(eye)n (Yew) may (console)t them &
adm(eye)re them, (butt) (yew) must (knot) (x)pect (one) of
(ewer) (puppet)s w(eye)ll (comb) home (toe) (yew) as
sweet as (yew) sent h(eye)m, twas cruel (toe) send so
pretty a (man) so many 1000 miles & (toe) have the
fat(eye)gue of re(urn)ing (back) after (spike)(eye)ng
h(eye)s (coat) & d(eye)rt(eye)ng [dirting] t(hose) red
(heel) (shoes) [shoeheels] (Eye)f (yew) are w(eye)(eye)
[wise] follow (ewer) own ad(vice) (yew) gave (toe) me take
home (ewer) (ships) sold(eye)(ears) guard (well) (ewer)
own tr(eye)(ling) [trifling] & leave me (toe) my self
as (eye)am at age (toe) know my own (eye)ntrests.
W(eye)thout (ewer (fool)(eye)sh ad(vice) & know t(hat)
(eye) sh(awl) (awl)ways regard (yew) & my Brothers as
relat(eye)ons (butt) (knot) as fr(eye)ends.
(Eye) am (yewer) (grate)ly (eye)njured
Daughter Amer(eye)k.

Provenancex coll: H. Dunscombe Colt. Other known copies: Halsey Collection at Brown; New York Historical Society.