The Coffee-House Patriots; or News, From St Eustatia

Date1781

After work by Henry William Bunbury 1750 - 1811

Artist/Maker William Dickinson

MediumEtching with line and stipple engraving

Credit LineFunds for purchase donated by Mr. & Mrs. Carl R. Dolmetsch.

Object number1985-280

DescriptionThe upper margin reads: "THE COFFEE-HOUSE PATRIOTS ; OR NEWS, FROM/ N.o 12"
Lower margin reads: "H. Bunbury Esq.r Delin.t/ W. Dickinson Excud.t/ LONDON. Publish'd Oct:.r 15 : 1781, by / S.T EUSTATIA./ W. Dickinson N.o 158 New Bond Street."Label TextThis print depicts the interior of a London coffeehouse the moment that city patriots receive read news in the "Extraordinary Gazette" dated February 13, 1781 that the island of St. Eustatius was taken by captured by the British only to discover that English merchants had utilized the island as a place to trade with the Americans during the Revolution. Due to English blockades on goods, the Dutch-controlled island of St. Eustatius was an important trading location for American military supplies and goods during the American Revolution. The standing figure to the right holding the back of a settle is thought to represent radical politician and supporter of American independence John Wilkes.ProvenanceBefore 1985, the Old Print Shop (New York, NY); 1985-present, purchased by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).