Hello,
Can anyone help to interpret a political cartoon from 1779?
I'm particularly interested in why the Scotsman (second from left) is shown seemingly defending Great Britain (third from left) from France (far left). The Scotsman is gripping Great Britain's staff with his left hand. On top of the staff is a liberty cap, which America is attempting to remove. Meanwhile, the Dutchman is on his knees stealing Great Britain's coin purse.
Here's the cartoon: The Present State of Great Britain
With a particular focus on the caricature of Scotland, as per your question, there are two important aspects to address in order to interpret the cartoon: whether or not this depiction is referencing a specific event, and the broader political context of the Anglo-Scottish milieu in the second half of the 18th century. I believe an understanding of both aspects would be helpful in the interpretation of the image.
To answer the first question (Is this cartoon making reference to a specific historical incident?), we'll need to take a look at the context of what was happening in 1779 that involved Scotland, England (or Great Britain), and France. The cartoon includes representations of America and The Netherlands as well, which I will address briefly at the end, but as you are primarily interested in the Scottish depiction I will mostly focus on that (conveniently, I also happen to know much more on that particular topic).
Other digital copies of this print (Such as this one from the Boston Public Library: https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:pr76fs827) indicate a more specific date of publication: October 24th, 1779. Keeping in mind the representation of Great Britain and its adversaries, as well as the political situation in Europe and North America at this time, I believe it's safe to conclude that the commentary of the cartoon is focused on the, at the time, ongoing American War of Independence. As a consequence of the British defeat at the Battle of Saratoga, France formally entered the war on the side of the American Colonists in February 1778, and a French fleet under the command of Charles Hector, Compte d'Estaing was actively involved in military operations on the Eastern Seaboard during 1778-1779. Of more relevance to the cartoon in question, d'Estaing and his forces (a fleet and several thousand soldiers), took part in the siege of British-held Savannah, Georgia in September and October 1779. During the final assault on Savannah on October 19th, a French assault on a weak spot in the city's defenses was successfully repelled by a Scottish regiment, the 71st Regiment of Foot, Fraser's Highlanders. After the failure of the assault, d'Estaing and his fleet returned to France. However, it is highly unlikely that the cartoon is referring to this specific encounter between French and Scottish troops, if it was indeed initially printed on October 24th, as news of the battle would not have reached London in a matter of six days. It is possible that the cartoon is reflective of the exploits of the 71st Regiment of Foot in other battles in Georgia and in the war up to that point, generally. It might also relate to the regiment's ongoing role in defending Savannah, assuming that the cartoonist was unaware that the French-American forces were breaking off the siege at the time the cartoon was published. To nail this down more specifically, it might be necessary to look at the greater context of the other work produced by the cartoonist and the publisher at this time, or even the periodicals covering the war in London around this date.
Of further interest in this image is its representation of Scotland and Scottish people in a positive/heroic role, and with "Great Britain" being shown asleep at the wheel to boot. I'm not a particular expert in political cartoons involving representations of Scotland in the 18th century, but I have to imagine this positive portrayal is quite rare. The political and social life of Scotland transformed dramatically throughout the course of the 18th century: England (with Wales) and Scotland were formally, politically unified by the Act of Union in 1707, which began the integration of Scotland and Scottish people into the British imperial project as active participants. This integration, however, was not always a smooth process. The final Jacobite rebellion with Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Highlanders was put down in 1746, only thirty some-odd years prior to the American War of Independence. At that time, Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Catholic Highlanders invaded England itself, and were at one point within striking distance of London. English attitudes toward the Scottish were colored by these events, as well as by the long historical animosity between the two countries. Depictions of the Scottish as being a backward, semi-savage people or representations of all Scottish people as being wild highlanders were not uncommon (For an in-depth analysis, see: https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/8110479/PENTLAND_2011_We_speak_for_the_ready.pdf).
Scotland itself, meanwhile, underwent a profound revolution of its own, in a way. In the late 17th century, immediately prior to the Act of Union, Scotland faced numerous catastrophes including repeated famines and economic collapse (e.g. The Darien Scheme), and I seem to recall that Scotland was considered the "poorest nation in Europe," around the turn of the century, though that particular quote is just a recollection of mine, so take it with a grain of salt. The 18th century, by contrast, is a period often referred to as "The Scottish Enlightenment," and Scotland boasted an explosion of influential literary output in the fields of science, philosophy, economics, and art (e.g. James Hutton, Robbie Burns, David Hume, Adam Smith, etc.). At the same time, Scotland and its people were active participants in and beneficiaries of the British Imperial project, which of course included their participation in military conflicts, and a growing (or continuing) reputation for military prowess. The seemingly favorable representation of Scotland in this cartoon, considering English attitudes toward the Scottish and the evolving nature of the Anglo-Scottish political entanglement, certainly raises very intriguing questions about the attitudes of the cartoonist and their motivations, especially given that John Bull, Great Britain itself, is at the same time being represented as unresponsive to the collective threats posed by its enemies. One could imagine that in the cartoon the drowsy Great Britain represents the government's shortcomings and failures during the war, while the Scottish character is representing the specific actions and heroism of Scottish soldiers (like the 71st) in the conflict.
As for the depictions of America and the Netherlands, I will just say briefly this: The Dutchman going for Britain's pocket money is probably reflective of the long-standing trade rivalry between England and the Low Countries. This rivalry was active throughout the Age of Discovery and the Colonial period, and while The Netherlands was officially neutral at the time of this cartoon, economic tensions between Britain and The Netherlands resulted in war between them in the following year.
I hope this is helpful to your understanding of the cartoon and its context - and I hope I didn't drone on for too long! Personally, I find this image fascinating, so thank you for your question and for giving me the opportunity to respond!
For more reading on Scotland's role in the expansion and development of the British Empire, check out: "Scotland's Empire: The Origins of the Global Diaspora" by T.M. Devine
And for more about the Scottish Enlightenment, you can check out: "How the Scots Invented the Modern World" by Arthur L. Herman
I also used these sources for checking the relevant dates and details about the 71st Regiment of Foot: