Political Ravishment, or The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street in Danger

A political cartoon of William Pitt the Younger wooing the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street. But his true intention is to get his hands on the Bank of England’s gold reserves: the gold coins in her pocket and the money-chest on which she is firmly seated.

The old lady represents the Bank of England, and it is this cartoon which led to the Bank’s nickname as the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street.

Published 22 May 1797 by H Humphrey.