The coffin expedition or, Boney's invincible Armada half seas over

French sailors, wearing shrouds and bonnets rouges, set sail in coffins to conquer England. Each coffin/boat is propelled by a triangular sail held to the top of the mast by the jaws of a grinning skull. A heavy cannon is perched in the front of the boat and a useless rudder is at the rear. One such boat, in the lower right corner of the image, sinks under a swell of waves. The sailors raise their arms in dismay while they sink with their coffin. As expressed by one sailor, this disastrous outcome was intended by Napoleon, who wanted to rid himself of undesirables in the French Navy. In the distance British war ships, identifiable by the flags they fly, confidently sail towards the shoddy French fleet. Their sails billow and banners wave from the tops of the masts. French sailors, wearing shrouds and bonnets rouges, set sail in coffins to conquer England. Each coffin/boat is propelled by a triangular sail held to the top of the mast by the jaws of a grinning skull. A heavy cannon is perched in the front of the boat and a useless rudder is at the rear. One such boat, in the lower right corner of the image, sinks under a swell of waves. The sailors raise their arms in dismay while they sink with their coffin. As expressed by one sailor, this disastrous outcome was intended by Napoleon, who wanted to rid himself of undesirables in the French Navy. In the distance British war ships, identifiable by the flags they fly, confidently sail towards the shoddy French fleet. Their sails billow and banners wave from the tops of the masts. Published by Samuel W. Fores. 1804-01-06 Caption: Pubd Jany 6th 1804 by S W Fores 50 Piccadilly Folios of Caracatures lent out for the Evening Dialogue: French Sailor: "Oh de Corsican Bougre, was to make dese Gun Boats on purpose for our Funeral." Dialogue: First British sailor: "I say Messmate if we don't bear up quickly there will be nothing left for us to do." Dialogue: Second British sailor: "Rigt Tom, & I take them there things at the mast head to be Boney's Crest, a Skull without Brains" Stamp(s): S. W. F.