Royal embarkation, or, Bearing Brittannia's hope from a bathing machine to the royal barge [graphic].

"The Regent, in tight and dandified admiral's full-dress uniform, wearing a cocked hat, is carried by two bathing women (cf. British Museum Satires no. 8432) from a bathing-machine (right) to the barge 'Royal George', for transit to the royal yacht. Just behind is the machine, inscribed 'The Best Machines in Brighton'; from it two naked girls look towards the departing prince. A sailor standing in the barge, which flies the Royal Standard, seizes the Regent's ankles; one foot is gouty and swollen; he says to the man standing behind him (left): "My eyes jack this here craft will never carry him--we should bring the sheers and reeve a tackle for him in the long boat--!!" A naval officer stands beside the sailor, and shouts an order to the man behind: "shove the Barge further a stern & be d--d to you--what you about a head there." The Regent has an arm round the neck of each woman and grasps the plump breast of the nearer one who is comely. He says: "Do my dear Girls put me on board safe, I shall Tell Paget to give you some Grog--I have been almost suffocated in that infernal Bathing Machine--mind my foot." One bathing-woman says: "Faith he's no joke Judy the devil a heavier Burthen in all the country"; her comelier companion answers: "By my own soul I'd rather carry such a nice neat beautiful young Gentleman, than the best basket of mackerel that ever was at Billingsgate." The sailor on the left uses a pole to manipulate the barge, the bow of which is cut off by the left margin. He wears a tight blue jacket to the (pinched) waist, with red collar and cuffs, white trousers, and top-hat with a badge: 'Royal George'. With a grimace he says: "D--n these soldiers jackets I can't move in em--I suppose we shall all be lobsters by & bye!!" Behind (right) are the chalk cliffs of Brighton, with tiny figures waving their hats; one woman is seated on a donkey holding up a parasol."--British Museum online catalogue