Lacing in style, or, A dandy midshipman preparing for action!! [graphic]

"A midshipman (left) dressed as a dandy (cf. British Museum Satires No. 13029) braces hands and feet against a mast on the extreme left, while four sailors, standing on a turn-table (right), wind up by a windlass a rope attached to his stays (cf. British Museum Satires No. 13394), compressing a wasp-waist. His coat, bell-shaped top-hat, with belt and dirk, are on a chair beside him. He says: "Very well my hearties very indeed--'pon honor. This lacing is not very agreeable, but it will be fully compensated by the grand dash I shall make at East London Theatre tonight--Oh! I shall be most enchanting! Oh, charming! Oh! delightful! after Ive got a pint of Rowlands Maccassar Oil [see British Museum Satires No. 12405] on my head--Pull away! heave away! pull away hearties!!" An old sailor sits on a gun smoking; he leans against the side of the ship, looking over his shoulder to say with a contemptuous grimace: "I say Master Midshipman, I always thought you a little crack-brained; now I'm convinced of it, for as you've turn'd Dandy, that's proof positive--I'ts all up withyou & all I have to say is you're not worth a -- quid of tobacco." Another midshipman, wearing a cockaded top-hat, jeers at the dandy with flexed knees and raised arms: "My Eyes!! Oh Murder! Ha! ha! ha!! Jack Greathead the cheesemonger's son got stays!!! Well, I've a good mind to get petticoats!--these Dandies are a disgrace to Great Britan--" The four sailors pushing hard at the windlass all grin; one asks: "I say, Mainmast, do you intend to get Stays"; Mainmast: "Get Stays! Why man I have stays already & have order'd a pair of Buckskin, & 2 pair of Sealskin, what do you think of that eh?!!" The third, a negro, says: "Me vid tink Massa vid soon have the Belly ache!!" The fourth: "Huzza! don't flinch my boys tho' he call "Stop" don't do so--Heave away my lads give him a twitcher--heave away He, Ho He Ho--!!"."--British Museum online catalogue