Illustration from the 'London Magazine', xlv. 599.
"This illustrates an article intended to counteract the effect of the news of the action on Long Island and the capture of New York, "the friends of Ministry thinking every thing gained, the friends of America every thing lost", whereas it should be regarded as a fallacious and temporary success, "the beginning of sorrows". "--Curorial comments, British Museum online catalog.
On a platform of three steps stand North and Mansfield; North, smiling, holds up a dispatch beginning "My Lord" and signed "How", the intermediate text being illegible. Behind them (r.), and on a lower step, stand Bute and George III. On the ground (l.) is a group of patriots who make gestures of distress, Wilkes being the most prominent. A seated and disreputable-looking woman holding the cap of Liberty is weeping. On the right. stand two ministers in conference, pointing with amusement and scorn at the patriots; one, Sandwich (r.), holds his finger to his nose, from his pocket hangs a paper inscribed "List of the Navy"; the other is probably intended for Germain. In the background is the sea, with ships of war, some in full sail, others sinking. Cf. British Museum online catalog.