A sequence of six figures and a final group arranged in two rows. [1] 'john bull at home', a handsome young farmer wearing a smock and wrinkled gaiters, sits at a table smoking, a pitcher in his hand. [2] 'inlisted. ' he stands full-face, hands on hips, dressed as before but with a favour in his hat. [3] 'trained to arms'. Smartly dressed in uniform, he stands at attention in profile to the left, shouldering a musket. [4] 'on foreign service'. He marches (left to right), still smartly dressed, but carrying a knapsack inscribed 'gr. ' [5] 'camp dinner. ' he is seated on the ground eating bread and an onion. More bread and onions lie in and near his open knapsack. (cf. Bmsat 8145. ) [6] 'in battle. ' he fires his musket, leaning forward in profile to the left. His uniform is tattered, though his appearance is still neat. [7] 'loaded with honors of war. ' an old soldier with a leg amputated and a sightless eye, he limpa [sic] on crutches, holding out his hat for alms. An infant is tied to his shoulders. Behind him and on the extreme right is his wife, a ballad-singer carrying twin infants, with an elder boy beside her. Her song is: 'o bony lass will you live in a barrack'. See bmsat 8328, &c. 1 july 1793. Etching. Date: 1793. Dimensions: Height: 289 mm; Width: 378 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. He would be a soldier, or the history of John Bulls warlike expedition. (BM 1851,0901.653 1)
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