Rodney triumphant-or-Admiral Lee Shore in the dumps. (BM 1851,0901.80)

A representation of Rodney's victory causing dismay to the new Ministry. Rodney, standing on the sea-shore, receives the submission of de Grasse, who bows before him in profile to the left, holding down the French flag so that Rodney stands on it, while in his right hand he holds out the hilt of his sword to Rodney. De Grasse is excessively lean and elegant, frogs are jumping from his coat-pocket. Behind him stand ranks of emaciated French sailors with expressions of distress, their hands tied behind them; they wear bag-wigs, ruffled shirts, long trousers, with bare ankles and wooden shoes. A baron's coronet is suspended above Rodney's head, inscribed “from Jove”, implying that the honour did not come from the Ministry. Behind him is a procession of cheering sailors, waving their hands and shouting “Huzza”. Two of them carry chests, one inscribed “Lewis d'or's”, the other “D° N° 26”, which they have just brought on shore. Behind them are ships in full sail, the nearer ones with the British flag flying above the French flag, showing that they are prizes. A ship's boat rows towards the shore with the Ensign flying above the fleur-de-lys, in it a minute figure stands waving his hat.
In front of a dilapidated building (left) stand the politicians. Fox, Keppel and the Duke of Richmond are in consultation in the foreground watching Rodney's triumph with expressions of displeasure. Fox, with a fox's head in profile to the right, says “Dam the French for coming in his way say I”. Keppel (Admiral Lee Shore) stands with his hands folded, thumbs touching, saying, “This is more than we expected: more than we wished”. Richmond (Master-General of the Ordnance) says, “Tis the last Fleet he shall have the opportunity of beating however”. Behind them North and Sandwich walk together; North in profile to the left, his right hand holding Sandwich by the arm, points to Keppel saying, “Ha! Ha! Ha! behold Augustus ye 27th”, an allusion to Keppel's action off Ushant on 27 Apr. 1778 for which he was court-martialled. Sandwich says, “Ha! Ha! Ha! - new measures - send a Pig to supercede a Lyon”. On the wall of the building behind them and above the heads of Richmond and Keppel is a representation of a ship, bottom upwards in a hatchment, with the motto “27th July, Gloria”. Below the ship is an axe inscribed “Rusty”, implying that Keppel deserved execution for his conduct. Plaster is coming off the wall, showing bricks. 31 May 1782

Etching