Men of War, bound for the Port of Pleasure, Robert Dighton, 1791

A party of sailors, just landed at chatham, with prostitutes. A sailor holding out a purse walks with a woman who puts her right arm across his shoulders, her left hand on her hip. Behind them a sailor embraces a woman who is taking his watch and seals from his fob. On the right, a sailor seated on a sea-chest puts his arm round a gaily-dressed woman who holds a purse. Behind them is a black man with a woman. In the background a coach drives off, its roof crowded with sailors waving their hats; its panels are inscribed 'chat[ham] to gra[vesend]' and 'gravesend tide co[ach]'. On a wall (left) is a bill, 'chatham to gravesend tide coach'. In the foreground (left) are a sea-chest, a bundle, a bludgeon. 1791 hand-coloured mezzotint. Date: 1791. Dimensions: Height: 350 mm; Width: 250 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. Men of War, bound for the Port of Pleasure (BM 1935,0522.1.69)