File:The political see-saw or minhir nic frog turn'd balance master (BM 1868,0808.4614).jpg

English: Holland, a fat Dutchman, stands upon the centre of a seesaw, straddling across a heap of money-bags. In his right. hand he holds a torn and ragged document, inscribed "That y Dutch Deliver into y Hands of English Paul Jones, [signed] York". His left hand, the palm curved as if to receive money, is held out towards a lean and foppish Frenchman kneeling on one knee on the see-saw. The Frenchman holds in his right. hand a purse; in his left. he holds up an oval portrait-head or medallion inscribed "P.Jones"; his hat is under his arm, his hair is in an enormous pig-tail queue, and his fur muff lies beside him. The Dutchman is saying:

"I never was in Such a Scrpe [sic] before in all my Life
I must be for neither & Yet for both -
For they do but Ask and I may Chuse
Whether to Grant them or Refuse
For 'tis their beter Parts their Riches
That my enamoured Heart bewitches
Let me yor Fortunes but possess
Then Settle Your matters how your Please
Hudibrass."

The money-bags at his feet are inscribed "Guineas", "Dublons", "Dollars", "Luidors". The Frenchman is saying :

"Assit [sic] me but this once I now implore
And I shall Trouble Thee no more.
- Hudibrass -"

Behind the Frenchman stands Spain as a Spanish don in feathered hat, cloak, and slashed breeches; in his right. hand is a scourge; in his left. a "Manefesto To y Court of London". He says:

"Ah me, What Perils do Environ
The Man that Meddles with could Iron.
Hudibrass."

Behind him, and at the extreme right. and upper end of the see-saw, sits America as an American Indian, wearing a head-dress of feathers, his hands clasped round his knees. He holds a large scroll on which is inscribed :

"Tho we with black & blues are fudgeld
Or as y Vulgar Say - are Cudgeld
He thats valliant and Dares Fight
Tho Drubd can loose no Honour by t"

This is continued on a flag which he holds:

"Yet am I loath my days to Curtail
If I thought my Wounds not mortal
Or that we had time enough as Yet
To make an Honourable retreat -
Hudibrass"

On the left. and lower end of the see-saw sits England, wearing a feathered hat, pseudo-classical drapery with an ornamental breastplate or gorget, decorated with a head writhing with serpents, probably symbolizing discord or faction. In his right. hand is a scroll, "Magna Charta", under his arm is an oval shield bearing the royal arms. He holds a cap inscribed "libertas" on a staff, the upper end of which broadens into a gnarled club, inscribed "Hart of Oak". He is saying:

"Perpend my Words O Minheer Nic
That if thou wilt not Give a categorical Answer - I shall
Teach you to Feel y weight of my Displeasure -
For Danger from his Life Accrew
Or Honour from his Death to You
Twere Policy and Honour too
To say as You Resolve to do."

By his side is a paper inscribed "To ye
Immortal Memory of Capt Falmer -
An Heroic Epistle."

The see-saw and the figures on it recede in perspective, the lower and l. end being nearer the spectator so that the figures diminish progressively in size from England to America who is on a quite small scale. Beneath the design is etched:

"This Plate representing our Critical Situation with y Dutch is Humbly
Inscribed to every True Briton who has y Wellfare of his Country at Heart."

Twenty-six lines of Hudibrastic verse follow, beginning:

"For Now y Field is not far off
Where we must give y World a Proof
Of Deeds not Words & such as Sute
Another manner of Dispute
A Controversy that affords
Actions for Arguments, not Words." 6 November 1779

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