Britannia to America (no title)

DateMay 6, 1778

Publisher Matthew Darly (ca. 1720 - 1780)

MediumBlack and white etching

DimensionsOH: 17 3/4" x OW: 11 1/4"; Plate H: 13 3/4" x W: 9 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1960-65

DescriptionIn this rebus, Britain pleads with America to put aside the recently formed French Alliance and return to her domain. It reads:
(Britannia) (toe) Amer(eye)ca.
My (deer) Daughter (eye) (can)(knot) (bee)hold
w(eye)thout (grate) pa(eye)n (ewer) (head)strong (back)-
(ward)ness (toe) ret(urn) (toe) (ewer) Duty in (knot)
op(posy)ng (awl) the good (eye) long (eye)ntended for
(ewer) (sole) Hap(pie)ness & (bee)ing told t(hat) (yew)
have g(eye)v'n (ewer) (hand) (toe) a(base) & (double-
faced) (Frenchman) (Eye) have sent (yew) 5 over/wise(men)
the (grate)est of (awl) my (child)ren (toe) put (yew)
(toe) r(eye)ghts & (hope) (yew) w(eye)[11] l(eye)s-
(ten) (toe) them & m(eye)nd w(hat) they say (toe) (yew)
they have (eye)nstr(yew)ct(eye)ons [instructions] (toe)
g(eye)ve (yew) t(hose) th(eye)ngs (yew) (form)erly
required. so (bee) a good (girl) d(eye)scharge (ewer)
(soldiers) & (ships) of war & (doe) (knot) re(bell)
aga(eye)nst (ewer) (moth)er rely upon me & (doe)(knot)
(console)t [consort] to w(hat) t(hat) french R(ass)c(awl)
sh(awl) tell (yew) IC he w(ants) (toe) b(ring) on an
enm(eye)ty (toe) (awl) (union) (bee)tween (yew)& (eye)
(but) l(eye)s(ten) (knot) (toe) h(eye)m (awl) the (world)
takes (knot)(eye)ce of h(eye)[s] (doubleface). I'll
send h(eye)m such MessaGG [messages] from my (grate)
(gun)s as s{h}(awl) make h(eyes) (heart) repent & know
t(hat) (one) good or (eye)ll t(urn)mer(eye)ts a (knot)her.
NB let (knot) (eighty) [hate] take (two) much hold of (ewer) (heart).
(Eye) am (ewer) fr(eye)end & (moth)er.

ProvenanceEx coll: H. Dunscombe Colt. Other known copies: Halsey Collection at Brown; New York Historical Society (colored copy).