A Witness. (caricature)

This print is an illustration from ‘Greenwich Hospital, A series of Naval Sketches, Descriptive of the Life of a Man-of-War’s Man. By an Old Sailor’, an account of the nautical tales of Matthew Henry Barker, published by James Robins in 1826 and illustrated by George Cruikshank. It accompanies the chapter ‘Horse-Man-Ship’, which includes an anecdote about sailors hiring a mare to travel. The horse gets seriously injured, and her owner brings the case to the mayor of Portsmouth, requesting 30 pounds for damages. The horse is brought in as a ‘witness’ to show the mayor her injuries.

This print depicts the moment when the two sailors present the mistreated horse to the mayor. The horse has bandages wrapped around its knees and body. One of the sailors leads the horse to the middle of the room by a rope while the other pushes it from behind. The mayor and other well-dressed men sit around a green table to observe the evidence. People pour in through the door to observe, all appearing very amused at the scene. Inscribed beneath with the title and publication information: ‘G Cruikshank / Pubd. By J. Robins & Co. Ivy Lane Paternoster Row. Sept. 1 1825’.

Depicting the misadventures sailors encounter when on land, the print caricatures sailors as being incapable of acting properly when ashore.