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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D5459/4/16 |
| Former Reference | D5459/3/9 |
| Title | Broad Bottoms in Holland Worshipping Their New King or Nic Frogs Adualtion of Louis Baboon |
| Date | 23 Jul 1806 |
| Description | On the left, Louis Bonaparte, depicted as a monkey, sits on a throne holding an orb and a 'ROD OF IRON'. He is faced by a row of bowing Dutchmen. All are large, and smoking pipes. Each has an inscription on his behind, these are, from left to right: 'BATAVIA STARVED', 'CAPE LOST', 'SURINAM LOST', 'CEYLON LOST', 'TRINIDAD LOST', 'TOBAGO LOST'.
One of the men addresses Louis:
"Most Illustrious Sovereign - we humbly bend before your sublime throne - and offer up our humble incense to your exalted nostrils, like your Imperial Brother who is the guardian angel of the universe you are a monkey of ten thousand, and sent by some supernatural agent to free us from our vile ancient republican ideas - Schimmelpenninck - compared with your august highness was but a small fly on the broad bottom of an Elephant! - Accept our grateful loyalty and may you long reign over our free and independent country."
Louis replies:
"May it please your Most Honorable Broad Bottoms to accept my most sincere acknowledgement - for your unprecedented Loyalty, believe me, I will ever be a friend to my croaking subjects - but from the advice of my illustrious Brother, though I may occasionally become a frog, I shall never forget that I am a French Monkey."
On the left are four frogs, also smoking pipes.
Available on CD 166. |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Artist | Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827) |
| Archive Creator | George Murgatroyd Woodward (1765-1809), artist and writer |
| Further Information | Pubd July 23rd 1806 by T Rowlandson No 1 James Street, Adelphi
Louis Bonaparte was officially proclaimed the hereditary King of Holland on 5 Jun 1806
Frogs had traditionally been used to represent the Dutch, not the French. |
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| Physical Description | Hand-coloured print. Size 390 x 268 mm. |
| Copies | A digital copy can also be viewed on the public computers at the record office. |
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