Stock exchange and the National Debt
subject: Print made by Francis Jukes, after Elizabeth Henrietta and William Phelps, published by William Phelps, 1785 Etching and aquatint and engraved writing 539x410 mm British Museum
description: The title is engraved on the façade of a one-storied, flat-roofed building, decorated with pilasters. Beneath the design is engraved; 'An Historical, Emblematical, Patriotical, and Political Print, representing the English Balloon, or National Debt in the year 1782, with a full View of the Stock Exchange, and its supporters the Financiers Bulls, Bears, Brokers, Lame Ducks, and others, and a proportionate Ball of Gold, the specific size of all the Money we have to pay it with supposing that to be Twenty Millions of Pounds sterling, the Gold, and Silver Trees entwined with Serpents, & upheld by Dragons, for the pleasure of Pluto & all his Bosom Friends.' On the roof of the building a large globe (the debt) is supported on the shoulders of two bears and two bulls, all with human heads, representing the bulls and bears of the Stock Exchange. A much smaller globe within it represents the £20,000,000. The globes are framed in a twisted pillar, rising from each corner of the roof and turning to form an arch over the globe. The pillar is covered with conventional foliage and flowers and entwined with two serpents with women's heads; above these are two winged dragons with men's heads wearing crowns; these dart out barbed tongues and look up at a winged man wearing Roman armour and holding a key who stands on the globe. In the clouds in the upper left corner of the print is forked lightning. Beneath it is a small winged figure of Fame blowing a trumpet and holding an olive-branch. In the distance, behind the Stock Exchange building, and seen above its roof, is a landscape with a poverty-stricken woman with two children (right), and a ruinous building (left). This emblematical design is inset in a realistic street-scene with houses. On the pavement, in front of the Stock Exchange and of an adjacent stationer's shop (right), well-dressed citizens are walking or standing in conversation. Three have webbed feet, showing that they are 'lame ducks', see BMSat 5835, 6273; they walk…