The Hartford Convention or Leap no leap / Wm. Charles, Sc.

Charles's satire attacks the Hartford Convention, a series of secret meetings of New England Federalists held in December 1814. The artist caricatures radical secessionist leader Timothy Pickering and lampoons the inclinations toward secession by convention members Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, alleging encouragement from English King George III. In the center, on a shore, kneels Timothy Pickering, with hands clasped praying, "I, Strongly and most fervently pray for the success of this great leap which will change my vulgar name into that of my Lord of Essex. God save the King." On a precipice above him, a man, possibly Harrison Gray Otis, representing Massachusetts, pulls two others (Rhode Island and Connecticut, possibly James Hillhouse) toward the edge. Rhode Island: "Poor little I, what will become of me? this leap is of a frightful size -- I sink into despondency." Connecticut: "I cannot Brother Mass; let me pray and fast some time longer -- little Rhode will jump the first." Massachusetts: "What a dangerous leap!!! but we must jump Brother Conn." Across the water, on the right, sits George III with arms stretched out toward the men on the cliff. He calls, "O'tis my Yankey boys! jump in my fine fellows; plenty molasses and Codfish; plenty of goods to Smuggle; Honours, titles and Nobility into the bargain." On the left, below the cliff, is a medallion inscribed with the names of Perry, McDonough, Hull, and other heroes of the War of 1812 and decorated with a ribbon which reads, "This is the produce of the land they wish to abandon."
712 U.S. Copyright Office.

Printed on lower left: Entr'd according to act of Congress.
Library has two impressions (1) etching on laid paper, hand-colored, copyright deposit, and (2) etching on wove paper, b&w.
The Library's hand-colored impression was deposited for copyright on December 10, 1814, by Samuel Kennedy.
Colored impression Inscribed in ink on back: No. 712. Title Page of "The Hartford Convention &tc. Deposited 10th Decre. 1814 by Samuel Kennedy as Proprietor.
There appear to be some puns in the print: Timothy Pickering, of Essex County, appears to make reference to Massachusetts Governor Caleb Strong when he says, and different type is used, "Strong ly"; and George III may refer to Harrison Gray Otis, Massachusetts delegate to the Hartford Convention, when he says "O'tis my Yankey boys!", as he gestures toward the three men representing Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island depicted above Pickering.
Lanmon, p. 98-100
Murrell, p. 88, 94
Century, p. 30
Weitenkampf, p. 19
Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1814-2.
Colored impression Exhibited: "1812 : A Nation Emerges" at the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., 2012-2013.
Exhibited: "Capitol Visitor Center" at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., 2014-2015.