The Colonies Reduced; Its Companion, designed and engraved for The Political Register

Two satires are combined here to form a frontispiece published in the December 1768 issue of London's Poltical Register. The journal's liberal and pro-American editor, John Almon, included the print to illustrate an article critical of Frederick, Lord North. As Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, North supported taxing British goods sent to America and had done nothing to prevent France's recent takeover of Corsica.

The upper image reproduces a design conceived in 1766 by Benjamin Franklin when he lived in London as colonial agent for Pennsylvania. As he lobbied for the repeal of the Stamp Act, Franklin had the image printed on cards to distribute privately. The law he opposed forced Americans, from November 1, 1765, to purchase British government stamps for legal documents, newspapers and other paper goods. It sparked widespread resistance, proved difficult to enforce, and encouraged boycotts which harmed trade. The satire presents Britannia as a stone figure seated on the ground with her arms and legs severed. Weak and defenceless, she leans against a globe and weeps. Her scattered limbs are identified as Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. A ribbon inscribed "Date Obolum Bellisario" [give a penny to Belisarius] lies across her lap to suggest how military mighty can fail, while brooms tied to the masts of ships at right indicate that they are for sale. We are asked to imagine Britain's future if she continues to provoke colonial discontent. Even though the Stamp Act was repealed in March 1766, the government simply instituted similar measures. Exisiting taxes on molasses and sugar imported from the Caribbean into the colonies began to be enforced and, in 1767, the Townshend Acts imposed duties on glass, lead, paint, paper and tea sent to America.

The second, cruder satire, whose designer is unknown, shows America–symbolized by a Native American woman–running into the arms of Louis XV. The delighted French king brandishes a pistol and sword at Britannia who vainly tries to hold onto America's feathered skirt. Britannia is hampered by John Stuart, Earl of Bute (who was no longer in government, but may be intended here to stand-in for his patron George III), who stabs Britannia in the neck and encourages Malta and Spain to join him in the attack. The melée allows a Dutchman to seize a British ship–indicating that Britain's policies are enriching trading rivals.