Preliminaries of peace!--or--John Bull, and his little friends marching to Paris

John Bull and members of the Opposition are led across an oak plank that spans the "Channel." Lord Hawkesbury, beating a drum with an olive branch and a paper scroll titled "Preliminaries," leads the group. The figures in this group wear liberty caps and have grotesque bodies and faces. Most of them are recognizable caricartures of political figures: Fox blows a trumpet, Norfolk Tugs at Bull's clothing, Sheridan pushers Fox from behind. They are also joined by Sheridan, Derby, General Walpole and Burdett. Across the Channel, French figures, in the guise of monkeys, hold hands and caper aroung a Liberty Tree topped by an enormous bonnet rouge. Actual sheet size without mat is 23"x18." John Bull and members of the Opposition are led across an oak plank that spans the "Channel." Lord Hawkesbury, beating a drum with an olive branch and a paper scroll titled "Preliminaries," leads the group. The figures in this group wear liberty caps and have grotesque bodies and faces. Most of them are recognizable caricartures of political figures: Fox blows a trumpet, Norfolk Tugs at Bull's clothing, Sheridan pushers Fox from behind. They are also joined by Sheridan, Derby, General Walpole and Burdett. Across the Channel, French figures, in the guise of monkeys, hold hands and caper aroung a Liberty Tree topped by an enormous bonnet rouge. Actual sheet size without mat is 23"x18." Published 1801-10-06. British Museum, BM 9726. According to George, this satire may have been directed by George Canning, who frequently supplied Gillray with subjects to caricature. George writes: 'Hawkesbury is attacked for surrendering British interests, acting under the orders of Pitt, and for misleading the peace-loving John Bull, who is urged to destruction by a Jacobinal and pro-French Opposition. Peace negotiations had been going on since March; the Preliminaries were signed on 1 Oct., the day before the news reached London of the French surrender at Alexandria.'