Lettered with title, artist's name, text within image and publication line "G H invt. G. Cruikshank fect. Pubd August 1815 by H. Humphrey St James's St."
An adaptation of Gillray's "Gloria Mundi, or--The Devil addressing the Sun" (1782).
Napoleon (left) takes the place of Fox, the Regent that of Shelburne. Napoleon as the Devil has horns (tipped to make them harmless) projecting through his cocked hat, he has the tattered remnants of (feathered) wings; his legs terminate in deeply cloven hoofs, which rest on the two rocky cliffs of St. Helena (taking the place of Fox's roulette table). He wears ragged uniform, and clutches round him like a scarf a tricolour flag, blown by the wind. His wrists are crossed on his breast. The sun in the upper right corner encloses a portrait-head of the Regent, and is topped by his motto and feathers. The rays from it extend to the dark clouds surrounding Napoleon. In the centre of each ray a name is inscribed: 'Alexander', 'Fredk William', 'Francis', 'William 1st of Orange', 'Wellington' [in larger letters than the other names], 'Blucher', 'Hill', 'Beresford', 'Anglesea'. [Broadley adds 'Picton': final letters of a name appear on the extreme right, which might be interpreted as 'ton'.] Napoleon, looking up with a despairing scowl, exclaims: "To thee I call-- / But with no friendly voice, & add / thy name--G--P--Rt!. to tell thee / how I hate thy beams, that bring to / my remembrance from what state / I fell &c." These words are inscribed on swirling flames which rise from Napoleon's mouth. Between the two cliffs on which Napoleon stands is a bay filled with a closely built town on the coast, which is backed by steep mountains. The sea forms the base of the design.