Leading members of the Whig opposition lull Britannia to sleep in a wicker bassinet. All three men are busily involved in providing for Britannia's comfort and keeping her in a state of deep sleep. Addington, (l.), is dressed in women's clothing and sits at the right of the bassinet. He sings a lullaby while rocking the cradle. At his feet a saucepan inscribed French Pap waits in case Britannia wakes hungry and cranky. Britannia, a large well-fed woman wearing classical robes, is thoroughly unaware of the present condition of Europe. She sleeps with her thumb in her mouth, completely relaxed. The shield and spear which are her attributes have slipped from her hand and now lay on top of her blankets. An inscription on the bonnet of the bassinet reads, "Requiescat in Pace." Fox, likewise dressed in women's clothing, hangs cloth diapers in front of a smoking fireplace. He turns to look at Britannia, and wears an expression of concern at the depth of her sleep. A print depicting Bonaparte dancing the jig and playing a fiddle hangs over a fireplace. Two apothecary jars are on the mantlepiece, one contains Composing Draught, the other Opiate Pills. These jars indicate that Britannia has been drugged by the Opposition into her current state. A twig switch hangs on the wall over Britannia's cradle, in case Britannia becomes defiant. Hawkesbury, (l.), a gangly old nursemaid, approaches carrying what George has described as a child's commode. The chair back is inscribed "French C-k-g Chair," and is decorated with a liberty cap. Another print, a tattered song sheet titled "Rule Britannia," has been tacked to the wall behind Hawhesbury. Leading members of the Whig opposition lull Britannia to sleep in a wicker bassinet. All three men are busily involved in providing for Britannia's comfort and keeping her in a state of deep sleep. Addington, (l.), is dressed in women's clothing and sits at the right of the bassinet. He sings a lullaby while rocking the cradle. At his feet a saucepan inscribed French Pap waits in case Britannia wakes hungry and cranky. Britannia, a large well-fed woman wearing classical robes, is thoroughly unaware of the present condition of Europe. She sleeps with her thumb in her mouth, completely relaxed. The shield and spear which are her attributes have slipped from her hand and now lay on top of her blankets. An inscription on the bonnet of the bassinet reads, "Requiescat in Pace." Fox, likewise dressed in women's clothing, hangs cloth diapers in front of a smoking fireplace. He turns to look at Britannia, and wears an expression of concern at the depth of her sleep. A print depicting Bonaparte dancing the jig and playing a fiddle hangs over a fireplace. Two apothecary jars are on the mantlepiece, one contains Composing Draught, the other Opiate Pills. These jars indicate that Britannia has been drugged by the Opposition into her current state. A twig switch hangs on the wall over Britannia's cradle, in case Britannia becomes defiant. Hawkesbury, (l.), a gangly old nursemaid, approaches carrying what George has described as a child's commode. The chair back is inscribed "French C-k-g Chair," and is decorated with a liberty cap. Another print, a tattered song sheet titled "Rule Britannia," has been tacked to the wall behind Hawhesbury. This plate has been recently colored with 'modern' pigments. An uncolored engraving on the verso suggests that this image has been cut from an album (possibly the 1830 republication of Gillray's plates by Thomas McLean). Dialogue: Hawkesbury: "O, By, My Baby, my Baby,/ O, By in Peace! my dearee!/ For such a sweet Nap as This,/ You never had, far nor nearee!/ So, By my baby, my dearee." Inscription: Pubd. Decr. 4th 1802, by Js. Gillray, No. 27 St. Jamses's Street. Printed Signature: Js. Gillray invt & fect. Plate Mark: 268
