Beating up for recruits

Hand-colored engraved caricature, published 1 Novr. 1781 (after Robert Dighton). 'A recruiting officer stands holding a drawn sword against his shoulder and holding up a netted purse before the eyes of four yokels (caricatured) who stand in a row facing him: one stoops down, his hands on his knees, the next, a waggoner holding a whip, holds out his hand for the King's shilling, grinning sheepishly at the companion on his left, a very-lean man, scratching his forehead. The fourth, whose body is cut off by the right margin of the print, gazes with a fixed grin at the officer. Behind the officer is a smart drummer (left) beating his drum and looking with a cynical half-smile at the yokels. The scene is outside a country ale-house (left). In the distance is a wagon drawn by three horses' -- British Museum Hand-colored engraved caricature, published 1 Novr. 1781 (after Robert Dighton). 'A recruiting officer stands holding a drawn sword against his shoulder and holding up a netted purse before the eyes of four yokels (caricatured) who stand in a row facing him: one stoops down, his hands on his knees, the next, a waggoner holding a whip, holds out his hand for the King's shilling, grinning sheepishly at the companion on his left, a very-lean man, scratching his forehead. The fourth, whose body is cut off by the right margin of the print, gazes with a fixed grin at the officer. Behind the officer is a smart drummer (left) beating his drum and looking with a cynical half-smile at the yokels. The scene is outside a country ale-house (left). In the distance is a wagon drawn by three horses' -- British Museum Large oblong folio, matted; margins trimmed; soiled.