A sturdy sailor, smoking a pipe, spokesman for three others (left), addresses sir john sinclair with contempt, a cudgel under his left arm:
"i say messmate. - you seem to know more about ploughing a field, than ploughing the ocean". Sinclair, fashionably dressed, stands in profile to the left, with downcast eyes and interlaced fingers, saying, "i was planet struck - certainly!" one of the sailors, looking contemptuously over his shoulder, says: "let him alone jack, he can't see clear" [cf. Title of bmsat 9271]. A third says: "reduce the navy! come that's a pretty rig! however. "
in the background (right) fox, with upraised hands, addresses a band of his scandalized supporters: "i am quite shock'd - we never went so far as that, did we?" sheridan answers, "no never - never". Erskine adds "never", and lord derby: "oh dear! never, never!" see bmsat 9271. 7 december 1798
etching. Date: 1798. Dimensions: Height: 246 mm; Width: 347 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby. Collection: British Museum. A singular situation, or I by-myself I in the dumps!! (BM 1868,0808.6800)
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