French invasion or Brighton in a bustle

Hand-colored engraving caricature, published March 1st, 1794. 'A scene at Brighton; some Frenchmen have landed on the beach; others are in broad clumsy boats which have left French men-of-war. In the foreground old women and yokels are dealing with the invaders. A woman resembling Martha Gunn, the bathing-woman, trampling on prostrate bodies, holds out at arm's length a kicking French soldier. Two lean and ragged fops (left) kneel before two irate women, one wielding a spit, the other an oar. A yokel uses his pitchfork to raise a prostrate man; he is smoking a pipe. Fat soldiers or volunteers advance from the right, one carrying a basket of pistols. Behind (right) is the high sea-front backed by houses. From this upper level guns are being fired at the boats, some of which founder, and at the ships. The nearest boat, half sunk, displays a guillotine. In bathing-boxes inscribed 'Smoaker' ('7') and ('8') are Fox and Sheridan, furtively looking out. The figures in the foreground are burlesqued, the fighting absurd. In the distance soldiers are drawn up on the beach firing at the invaders under the command of a mounted officer. The first row kneel, the second fire standing. Spectators watch from behind a sea wall and from the windows of the nearest house'. -- British Museum Hand-colored engraving caricature, published March 1st, 1794. 'A scene at Brighton; some Frenchmen have landed on the beach; others are in broad clumsy boats which have left French men-of-war. In the foreground old women and yokels are dealing with the invaders. A woman resembling Martha Gunn, the bathing-woman, trampling on prostrate bodies, holds out at arm's length a kicking French soldier. Two lean and ragged fops (left) kneel before two irate women, one wielding a spit, the other an oar. A yokel uses his pitchfork to raise a prostrate man; he is smoking a pipe. Fat soldiers or volunteers advance from the right, one carrying a basket of pistols. Behind (right) is the high sea-front backed by houses. From this upper level guns are being fired at the boats, some of which founder, and at the ships. The nearest boat, half sunk, displays a guillotine. In bathing-boxes inscribed 'Smoaker' ('7') and ('8') are Fox and Sheridan, furtively looking out. The figures in the foreground are burlesqued, the fighting absurd. In the distance soldiers are drawn up on the beach firing at the invaders under the command of a mounted officer. The first row kneel, the second fire standing. Spectators watch from behind a sea wall and from the windows of the nearest house'. -- British Museum Large oblong folio, matted; margins trimmed; worn. London, Parker Gallery, 1950.