The Great Dumourier Taking French Leave of the Netherlands, April 1793
Scope and Contents
Engraving. A thin, grotesque French officer flees in terror with outstretched arms from the beak of a bird (Ieft) which is about to peck his posteriors. He is a sansculotte, without breeches, wearing a military coat and ruffled shirt. His hair and long pigtail fly out behind him; his cocked hat flies off; the cockade is inscribed 'Ca ira', ironically translated 'Go it'. Before him (right) the rear ranks of the French army are seen running away at full speed, but in orderly formation. Dumouriez says: "Dam the Rotter-damers! Dam the Amsterdamers! neither Breakfast nor Breeches obtained-and no more pickings in Belgia, but my Rear in danger of being pickt by the Imperial Eagle". The bird resembles a goose more than an eagle except for its predatory beak. The French troops say: "Go it-Master's limbs are on full Stretch its the Devil take the hindmost-this is running in the Old French Style". A satire on the evacuation of the Netherlands by the French after the defeat of Neewinden. This was not a flight, but the result of an informal armistice on 23 Mar. between Dumouriez and the Prince of Coburg. J. H. Rose and A. M. Broadley, 'Dumouriez and the Defence of England', 1909, p. 175. Partial description from Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires Vol. VII. 8321.
Dates
- Creation: April 1793
Conditions Governing Access
Available by appointment in our Reading Room
Extent
1 Item(s)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository
Western Bank Library
University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TN United Kingdom
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