Cartoon, Mrs. General Washington Bestowing Thirteen Stripes on Britania [sic]

Images of Martha Washington

"In this cartoon, “Mrs. General Washington” embodies America. She holds a thirteen-strand whip above her head, with which she is about to strike Britannia, the personification of the British Empire. The thirteen strands allude to the thirteen stripes on the American flag, which denote the original American colonies. Behind Mrs. Washington stand three male figures representing the Netherlands, France, and Spain. Each one utters words of encouragement, as Mrs. Washington berates Britannia: “Parents Should not behave like Tyrants to their Children,” to which Britannia responds: “Is it thus my Children treat me.”

This cartoon was published in The Rambler’s Magazine, a monthly periodical published in London starting in January 1783. The journal’s full title was The Rambler’s Magazine; or, The annals of gallantry, glee, pleasure, and the bon ton; calculated for the entertainment of the polite world; and to furnish the man of pleasure with a most delicious banquet of amorous, Bacchanalian, whimsical, humorous, theatrical and polite entertainment."

Description from nypl.org

Anonymous

1783-04-01

Etching and engraving

eng

Mrs. General Washington, Bestowing Thirteen Stripes on Britania [sic]. Etching and engraving. London: The Rambler's Magazine, April 1, 1783. The New York Public Library, C.W. McAlpin Collection.

New York Public Library

newspaper cartoon