Nautical politeness, or, British sailors perusing the dispatches from Cadiz [graphic].

"Three sailors sitting on trunks on board a ship, grimacing as they read papers. At centre one points to his paper, saying, 'Did you ever hear such palaver Jack - Just before an Action'; his paper is inscribed, 'nothing opposes the individual esteem entertaind for your excellency by your faithfull servant / J Moore / Cadiz'. At left, a sailor reads a paper inscribed, 'I am your Excellrncys most Humble Servant / Rossily'; his trunk is lettered 'Will bo[...]'. At right the third says, 'Be quiet you lubbers, you dont know how to be polite - one of the Mounseers has ax'd me a little time, before I blow him up, and see what a civil letter I have sent him.'; his trunk is lettered 'Junk' and his paper, 'Mounseer / I had the honor of your this morning, and if you don't surrender by six in the evening, I'll be d-d if I dont blow you up / yours / to command / Jack Junk'. On the floor in the foreground, a tankard of 'Grog', a pipe and broadsides, one of which is headed 'True courage'; a cannon behind at left. Reissue by Fores of a print originally published c. July 1808."--British Museum online catalogue

"In May-July 1808, at the beginning of the Peninsular war, the British fleet helped to defend the Spanish in Cádiz from the French fleet led by Rosily; the British officer John Moore left England for Portugal in July 1808. The imprint indicates a reissue, giving the address line used by Fores in 1818-19."--Curator's comments, British Museum online catalogue