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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D5459/1/93/2
Former ReferenceD5459/1/167
TitleThe Decoy Duck : or the Drake Outwitted
Date[1804]
DescriptionA man with a duck's head, surrounded by moneybags, crouches down on the banks of the 'Consular Pond'. He addresses a duck in the reeds on the other side of the pond:
"If I thought all was safe I should like to dabble a while in this pond, _ I have a great mind to swim across! _ but O my dear friend M.D.L. _ if you should turn out a decoy duck after all".
The duck in the reeds replies:
"Oh dear Mr Drake - I wonder how you can fancy such a thing - don't leave your money bags behind you - depend upon it all goes swimmingly".
Behind him can be seen a number of figures, including one who resembles Napoleon.
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
ArtistWoodward, George Murgatroyd (?1765-1809)
Archive CreatorGeorge Murgatroyd Woodward (1765-1809), artist and writer
Further InformationThe drawing appears to refer to Francis Drake (1764-1821), Minister Plenipotentiary to the Elector of Bavaria. He was taken in by Méhée de la Touche, an agent provocateur in French pay who gave money, codes and secret ink to emigrés and Jacobins.
Copies of Drake's letters (revealing plans to mount an uprising on the left bank of the Rhine) were circulated to foreign ministers in Paris in 1804 and were sent to Munich. Many Foreign ministers wrote back condemning Drake and complimenting Napoleon.
Physical DescriptionPencil drawing with text in ink. Size 340 x 276 mm.
CopiesA digital copy can also be viewed on the public computers at the record office.
Related MaterialFor more depictions of Napoleon see D5459/1/91 etc.
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The Decoy Duck : or the Drake Outwitted

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