The continental dockyard

This print, like many others, imagines the Channel to be only a stone's throw wide. On the left side of the sheet, British sailors stand on a dock and take stock of the ships the French are busily building and repairing. One particularly stout sailor turns to his companion and speculates that they will soon be overstocked with ships. Already, "John Bull's Storehouse" is organized and packed with French ships taken in naval battles. In contrast, "The Gallic Storehouse for English Shipping" at the left of the sheet is falling apart and empty. French workers scramble on the sandy shore to meet the demand. In response to Napoleon's orders to speed production, a thin, bedraggled sailor shrugs his shoulders and pleads that, quite simply, it is no use, since all ships made are immediately confiscated by the British Navy. In the distance several galleons make their way toward the Channel. This print, like many others, imagines the Channel to be only a stone's throw wide. On the left side of the sheet, British sailors stand on a dock and take stock of the ships the French are busily building and repairing. One particularly stout sailor turns to his companion and speculates that they will soon be overstocked with ships. Already, "John Bull's Storehouse" is organized and packed with French ships taken in naval battles. In contrast, "The Gallic Storehouse for English Shipping" at the left of the sheet is falling apart and empty. French workers scramble on the sandy shore to meet the demand. In response to Napoleon's orders to speed production, a thin, bedraggled sailor shrugs his shoulders and pleads that, quite simply, it is no use, since all ships made are immediately confiscated by the British Navy. In the distance several galleons make their way toward the Channel. Published by Thomas Tegg, 1807-11-27. Caption: London Pubd. Novr 27th 1807 by Thos Tegg No 111 Cheapside Dialogue: English: "I say my Lads if he goes on this way we shall be over stock'd." "What a deal of pains some people take for nothing." Dialogue: French: "Begar you must vork like de Diable ve must annihilate dis John Bull." "Please you my Grand Empereur, tes no use vatever as fast, as ve do build dem, he vas clap dem in his storehouse over de way." Inscription: Price one shilling coloured Printed Signature: Woodward, del. Williams, f. Plate Mark: 229