Bonaparte Threatening Invasion to Lord Whitworth

Broadside ballad entitled 'Bonaparte Threatening Invasion to Lord Whitworth', illustrated with a woodcut engraving of Napoleon Buonaparte. The ballad refers to the confrontation between Napoleon and Lord Whitworth, the British Ambassador to France in March 1803 when, after a violent argument, Buonparte shouted at Whitworth 'Woe to those who do not respect treaties! They will be responsible to all Europe'

Ballads recounting incidents of British heroism and victory in the Napoleonic wars against France were extremely popular with Londoners. Primarily printed by small back street printers based in the Seven Dials area of London they were sold by ballad hawkers trading on London's streets. The ballad writers would receive little reward from the printers for their efforts, reportedly sometimes only a few pints of ale. The printer of this ballad John Pitts was a leading figure among the Seven Dials printers having established his business in Great Andrew Street in 1802. Pitts dominated the ballad trade until the advent of Jemmy Catnach in 1813.