Brown University Library Special Collections

The Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection recently acquired a rare late 18th century hand-colored British satirical print entitled Evacuation of Holland, or Fire and Water too much for Dumourier.  Published in London by W. Dent in March 1793,  it relates to the evacuation of the Netherlands by the French after the defeat at Neewinden near Liege, Belgium. This was not a fight but the result of an informal armistice on March 1793 between General Dumouriez and the Prince of Coburg.

The image is currently on display in the lobby case situated in the foyer of the John Hay Library.

In this scene British soldiers are feeding three local  men poised on a wall who in turn are defecating  on the French soldiers who are being hit by the ‘missiles’.