French Privateers, cruising in the English Channel, Robert Dighton, 1792

Six french émigrés are grouped at the roadside beside a signpost (right) pointing (left) to 'london' and (right) to 'dover'. A lean and elderly woman holding a clipped poodle stands with her left hand in the arm of a man wearing a cocked hat with a tricolour cockade, and a long coat reaching almost to his ankles; he holds a tasselled cane. Next him is a stout man wearing a long cloak, and a boy or dwarfish man. On the right are two women holding large muffs. A second clipped poodle runs beside them. In the background a coach (right) inscribed 'london dover canterbury' is driving towards london with outside passengers; one, a sailor, waves his hat. The gable end of a cottage (left) and trees complete the background; republished state. 4 june 1792 hand-coloured mezzotint. Date: 1792. Dimensions: Height: 357 mm; Width: 249 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. French Privateers, cruising in the English Channel (BM 1935,0522.1.25)