The interior of a bare and dilapidated room in which four exhausted men (one half naked) are chained to the wall. Three smartly dressed soldiers wearing feathered hats are maltreating a sailor: one (left) holds a rope which is round his neck, another clutches him by the hair, the third (right), standing behind his back, raises a bludgeon. The sailor cries "murder - murder oh. " the three soldiers (left to right) say: "come along & fight the french, an be hanged to you by j. S man you dont know when you are used well; so you won't be a gentleman soldier you thief; b. T you what do you call murder for!" a woman holding a key stands in a doorway on the right, her right fist clenched; she says, "d------n him. Strip him. "
the four chained captives sit with closed eyes, too exhausted to notice the turmoil. Three scampering rats and an enormous cobweb indicate the character of the room. 26 august 1794. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1794. Dimensions: Height: 229 mm; Width: 304 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Howe. Collection: British Museum. Kidnapping, or a disgrace to old England (BM 1878,0511.1391)
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