Shah Allum in distress, British Cartoon Print

"A design in two compartments illustrating an article in Biblical phraseology, 'The First Chapter of the Book of Kings' and 'The Lamentations'. In the upper part is depicted a meeting of the General Court of the East India Company; the directors seated at a table on which are writing materials, a book, and a hammer. In the foreground a large man, Governor Johnstone, is holding up by the seat of his breeches 'Shah Allum' or Sir George Colebrook for the derision of the other directors. In the background, behind a barrier, a crowd of men, apparently the proprietors of East India Stock, watch the proceedings with amusement. A ship with broken masts in heavy seas is driving on to rocks (right), on which is a flag-staff with a flag inscribed 'Treasury Cape'. On the right margin is inscribed "L. 40,00,00". This symbolizes the ruinous state of the Company's finances, on the verge of bankruptcy and burdened with an annual tribute of £400,000 to the Treasury." (Source: George)

From the Westminster Magazine, i. 41.
Notation on recto: Warren Hastings.
Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum / by Mary Dorothy George, v. 5, no. 5100
Forms part of: British Cartoon Prints Collection (Library of Congress).