Note 1 — CATALOGUE OF HOGARTH'S PRINTS.[1] (continued 3)

The principal figure in the character of Henry VIII. appears to be not Mr. P. but another person whose power is signified by his bulk of carcase, treading on Mr. P. represented by 3000 l. The bellows may signify his well-meaning, though ineffectual, endeavours to extinguish the fire by wind, which, though it will put out a small flame, will cherish a large one. The guider of the engine-pipe, I should think, can only mean his M———, who unweariedly tries, by a more proper method, to stop the flames of war, in which he is assisted by all his good subjects, both by sea and land, notwithstanding any interruption from Auditors or Britons, Monitors or North Britons. The respectable body at the bottom can never mean the magistrates of London; Mr. H. has more sense than to abuse so respectable a body; much less can it mean the judges. I think it may as likely be the Court of Session in Scotland, either in the attitude of adoration, or with outspread arms intending to catch their patron, should his stilts give way. The Frenchman may very well sit at his ease among his miserable countrywomen, as he is not unacquainted that France has always gained by negociating what she lost in fighting. The fine gentleman at the window with his garretteers, and the barrow of periodical papers, refer to the present contending parties of every denomination. The breaking of the Newcastle arms alludes to the resignation of a great personage; and the replacing of them, by the sign of the four clenched fists, may be thought emblematical of the great œconomy of his successor. The Norfolk jig signifies, in a lively manner, the alacrity of all his Majesty's forces during the war; and G. T. [George Townshend] fecit, is an opportune compliment paid to Lord Townshend, who, in conjunction with Mr. Windham, published "A Plan of Discipline for the Use of the Norfolk Militia," 4to. and had been the greatest advocate for the establishment of our present militia. The picture of the Indian alive from America is a satire on our late uncivilized behaviour to the three chiefs of the Cherokee nation, who were lately in this kingdom; and the bags of money set this in a still clearer point of view, signifying the sums gained by shewing them at our public gardens. The sly Dutchman, with his pipe, seems pleased with the combustion, from which he thinks he shall be a gainer. And the Duke of Nivernois, under the figure of a dove, is coming from France to give a cessation of hostilities to Europe.