A satirical depiction of Anglo-Russian relations in the aftermath of the British establishing the Malta Protectorate. At centre, two bare-chested, bare-knuckle pugilists spar with each other, the bald-headed King George III and his bloodied and embattled opponent Paul I, Emperor of Russia. Paul’s nose gushes blood, and his bruised eye is covered with a patch labelled ‘Malta.’ Following a request for assistance from a newly formed Maltese National Assembly for assistance in their uprising against Napoleon, the British sent a convoy of ships to blockade and assist the island. The French garrison capitulated and withdrew in September 1800, and a British Protectorate was established. The refusal by Nelson to hand Malta back to the Knights of Malta angered Paul, who as Master of the Hospitallers, viewed the Protectorate as an overreach. In truth, British actions on Malta were simply the latest in a series of events in the worsening relationship of the two former allies following the defeat by the French and Dutch of the joint Anglo-Russian force at the Battle of Castricum. Paul, wearing a belt inscribed ‘Petersburg,’ calls out for assistance to his Allies in his new Armed Neutrality coalition: ‘Curse this George, he hits so hard I wish I had not Challenged him - why you skulking dogs why don’t you come in front & stand up to him, I don’t like to have all his clumsey thumps.’ The Allies, Paul’s ‘second,’ ‘third’ and ‘bottle holder’ as Cruikshank’s title designates them, are the Kings of Denmark, Sweden, and Prussia. The two former are bruised and bloodied, cowering on the floor, and proclaiming ‘I wish I was safe at Copenhagen again’ and ‘And I at Stockholm.’ The King of Prussia, in military uniform and clutching a bottle emblazoned with a double headed eagle, remains aloof from the conflict: ‘I am only Neuter, George, dont take any side, my Love to my daughter.’ The final comment, in reference to his daughter Princess Frederica Charlotte, who married George’s son Frederick Duke of York, marks the King out as Frederick William II, a anachronistic error of Cruikshank’s as the King was by the time of this caricature already dead, and his son, the Duchess’ brother Frederick William III on the throne and in alliance with Paul. George himself is very pleased with his progress, calling out to his second: ‘I say Billy-Billy-Think I can do them all - now for Petersburgh.’ Billy, the King’s second, is of course the Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, concealed in full armour, but recognisable by the ridiculous point to his helmet’s visor, which apes the angular profile given to his face by all of the great caricaturists of the era. He carries a shield bearing the arms of the United Kingdom, a sword, and lance, but wears a pair of modern spurred boots. He urges his support: ‘Well done, my old Master, you have Blocked up Malta, now dash right in to Petersburgh - as for the other little wretches you can easily trip up their Heels & lay them on their Backs.’

The caricature appeared just days after reports in the London Chronicle that the Russian Emperor had issued a challenge of personal combat to the other leaders in the war. Such a comment had indeed been made, and repeated in a letter from the Danish Minister. Though clearly in jest, the comment was widely reported, and obviously provided the ideal subject matter for satire. Paul’s aggression towards the British was not limited to jests though. At the same time that this caricature was celebrating the bruising of Paul by the British, a secret pact with Napoleon had been struck and troops were already being moved in preparation for a joint Franco-Russian attack on British Company rule in India. Similar to Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt, the expeditionary force included architects, artists, surveyors, engineers, and other savants in addition to the usual military and administrative staff. As it was, growing dissatisfaction with the Russian Emperor among his courtiers led to Paul’s assassination, and the so-called ‘Indian March of Paul’ stalled at the Aral Sea.

Isaac Cruikshank (1764-1811), was a Scottish painter and caricaturist. Born in Edinburgh, he studied with a local artist, possibly John Kay, and travelled to London in 1783. He married Mary MacNaughton in 1788 and had five children, including the caricaturists Isaac Robert Cruikshank (1789-1856) and George Cruikshank (1792-1878). He produced work for various publications including ‘Edinburgh types’ (c.1784), ‘Witticisms and Jests of Dr Johnson’ (1791), and George Shaw's ‘General Zoology’ (1800–26). Through his caricatures, Cruikshank and Gillray developed the figure of John Bull. He worked with the publishers John Roach, S. W. Fores and Johnny Fairburn. He also collaborated with his son George. Cruikshank died of alcohol poisoning as the result of a drinking contest.

BM Satires 9701

Condition: Trimmed to platemark along top margin. Light waterstaining along top edge of sheet. Minor dirt staining, particularly to platemark on right edge of sheet. Old adhesive tape to verso.