William Pitt (Prime Minister) rides upon the back of King George III, who has become the mouthpiece for his oppressive policies. A demented George yells 'Bristol Bastile! Birmingham Bastile! Manchester Bastile! Informers! Confinement! Dungeons! Racks! Tortures! No Lenity!'. Gillray's print criticises a recent royal proclamation that aimed to suppress 'tumultuous meetings and seditious writings'. It targeted radical societies, clubs and individuals such as writer Thomas Paine who were sympathetic to the French Revolution