Sailors on shore. (BM 1948,0214.627)

A sailor, a knapsack tied to a walking stick over his shoulder, riding a horse that strains under the weight of a large stone tied to its tail, which drags behind it; a countryman standing at right enquires, 'Why Jack. what the deuce do you do. - with that great stone tied to the tail of your horse?' The sailor replies, 'You must know Messmate. it is an invention of my own - I've come but a short Voyage d'ye see, and have in the time been unshippd twice, by this fellows pitching on his knees, So do you see, - I had some ballast to the stern, and shiver my timbers if there ever was a better thing invented to prevent a vessel from going too-much a head!' 14 September 1800
Hand-coloured etching with stipple