“[Left image]: A stout English soldier pursues with clenched fists two French soldiers, who are emaciated ‘petits-maîtres’. They wear long pigtail queues, ruffled shirts, and large top-boots. The Englishman says, “Lower your Topsails Monsieurs”; the Frenchmen say “We are bold Frenchmen”. The Englishman is trampling on a French flag which lies on the ground. A British flag is partly visible on the left behind the Englishman. In the distance (right) a party of French soldiers is seen in flight, over them is inscribed, “Run Frogs”. [Right image]: A French soldier (left), with clenched fists, kicks the back of a fat English soldier. He says “Begar zee will make you nozv lower your Topsails”. The fleeing Englishman looks round to say “I’m an English man of War”. In the distance (right) English soldiers with a flag, the words “Run Beef Heads” inscribed over their heads, are in flight. The British flag, inscribed “Discolour’d”, lies on the ground. A French flag, inscribed “Lewis le Grand”, extends over the head of the victorious Frenchman.”–British Museum online catalogue
- Title: Time past. When we beat them ten to one Time present. The case is alter’d.
- Published: London, 20 January 1782
782.01.20.01+
Acquired November 2024
Three men sit by a supper-table, a grandfather-clock behind them points to XI. The man on the left is having his jack-boots pulled off by a small boy; the boy stands astride his right leg pulling hard, his back to the man, who is scowling and pushes his other booted foot against the boy’s back; on the floor are a pair of spurs, a pair of slippers, and a boot-jack. A man (right) wearing a night-cap, but otherwise completely dressed and wearing spurred boots, leans one elbow on the table, his face contorted as if in pain, he holds his hand to his thigh. On the table beside him is a small packet inscribed “Diaculum”. In the centre, and on the farther side of the table, the third man leans both elbows on the table, his hair is tousled and his eyes are shut. A servant behind, yawning, is carrying off a square box, probably a wig-box, while a maidservant stands on the right, a candle in one hand, a warming-pan in the other, watching with amusement the efforts of the boy to pull off the boot. Three hats hang on the wall; a bottle, a plate, three wine-glasses, and a guttering candle, burnt down to the socket, stand on the table. See related image in the British Museum catalogue.