The Tea-Tax-Tempest, or Old Time with his Magick Lanthern

This print is a small variation of one made in 1778 by Carl Guttenberg (the latter itself based on a 1774 mezzotint by John Dixon) (see 83.2.2082 and 67.797.45(b)). Father Time holds up a magic lantern to project an image of the unfolding American Revolution to figures who embody Britain, Asia and Africa, with America sitting apart at left. A text bubble issuing from Father Time's mouth clarifies the image's meaning:

"There you see the little Hot Spit Fire Tea pot that has done all the Mischief - There you see the Old British Lion basking before the American Bon Fire whilst the French Cock is blowing up a Storm about his Ears to Destroy him and his young Welpes - there you See Miss America grasping at the Cap of Liberty - There you see The British Forces be yok'd and be cramp'd flying before the Congress Men - There you see the thirteen Stripes and Rattle-Snake exalted - There you see the Stamp'd Paper help to Make the Pot Boil - There you See &c &c &c."

The central image reflects the reality of war in 1778, with American forces advancing from upper right and British ones retreating at left (Dixon's 1774 print, by contrast, held out hope for a peaceful resolution). Central flames are fed by stamped paper and cause a tea pot to explode, referring to British taxes that sparked the conflict. A cockerel fanning the flames points to French military support for the American cause. A book at lower right illustrates the story of William Tell to suggest that Switzerland's struggle for independence from the Holy Roman Empire offers a precedent.