Travells eldest son talks with a Cherokee chief

Category

Library Item

Item no

1749

Title

Travells eldest son in conversation with a Cherokee chief

Description

Two portly gentlemen engage in an animated conversation. They are wearing frock coats, waistcoats, breeches, stockings and buckled shoes. Both have wigs and hats on. One is carrying a sword. The bottom of the image is annotated with their conversation.

Artist / maker

Kay, John

Date

1791

Size

20.9 x 13.6 cm

Type

Etching

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The annotation below this etching reads:
"How dare you approach me with your travells. There is not a single word of them true.
There you may be right, and altho' I never dined upon the Lion or eat half a Cow and turned the rest to grass, yet my works have been of more use to mankind than yours, and there is more truth in one page of my Edin.r directory than in all your five Volumes 4o. So when you talk to me don't imagine yourself at the source of the Nile."

These two men are identified in the text that accompanies this etching in volume two of 'A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John Kay'. To the left is James Bruce, Esq. of Kinnaird, the 'Abyssinian traveller', and to the right is Peter Williamson. Peter Williamson's life story is recounted in detail. He was kidnapped from Aberdeen as a boy and taken to America, where he was later captured by the Cherokee and then the French. He returned finally to Edinburgh where he established a Penny-post, and was the first to publish a Directory for the city.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Shoes

Clothing and dress > Garments > Coats

People > Adults > Men

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh