English: Britannia, her shield hanging from her shoulders, is about to be torn in pieces by three horses, who are being violently assailed by their riders with scourges and huge spurs. She lies at the centre of cross-roads, one (l.) inscribed "To America"; up this gallops a horse inscribed "Tyranny", to which Britannia's r. ankle is bound. Her wrists are tied by ropes to the horses "Venality" and "Ignorance", which are galloping (r.) on the roads "To Spain" and "To France" respectively. Her l. ankle is attached to a post inscribed "Court Influence" which is grasped by a stout seated man wearing a riband, evidently Lord North, though his head is hidden by his arms. He sits on the fourth road, that of "Despotism". The three horses are ridden by men ferociously using huge spurs; two flourish knotted scourges, the third a spiked club.

Behind Britannia is a large rectangular pedestal or altar decorated with a chain, and with the inscription "Great is our Lord, and Great is his Power: Yea, and his Wisdom is infinite". From this watches George III, smiling vacuously, with a watchman's rattle in one hand, a model of a cock, apparently standing on a pair of breeches, in the other. This is perhaps an allusion to the king as a 'botching taylor', see BMSat 5573. He lies supported on his elbows, across him strides a Scotsman in a kilt, evidently Bute, his arms outstretched, holding in each hand a whip with two long lashes, with which he urges on the horses below. He wears a large thistle. A long ladder leans against the side of the pedestal. Above the road leading "To America" a winged figure is flying away, carrying the cap of "Liberty" on a staff. ?1779

Etching