tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803969651277143887.post2461167715265973432..comments2024-01-30T04:15:42.071-05:00Comments on British Tars, 1740-1790: All Hands to a Court Martial, 1745Kyle Daltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13428848890576823316noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803969651277143887.post-81955827696205049522014-04-02T21:35:57.730-04:002014-04-02T21:35:57.730-04:00You would be correct! I read the date in a smaller...You would be correct! I read the date in a smaller resolution, and mistakenly thought he curls of the five were the circles of an eight.<br /><br />Thanks!Kyle Daltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13428848890576823316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2803969651277143887.post-30916296864142741832014-03-30T17:37:08.205-04:002014-03-30T17:37:08.205-04:00This cartoon is in reference to the Battle of Toul...This cartoon is in reference to the Battle of Toulon in 1744, which was an embarrassing defeat for the British Navy. There was massive mis-communication and jealousies among the captains of the fleet, and an outnumbered Spanish fleet (outnumbered by something like 400-500 guns) was able to break the blockade and deliver supplies. <br /><br />It was regarded as a humiliating defeat in England and something like a dozen captains were cashiered and court martialled (thus the tars driving the finely dressed men ahead of them).<br /><br />The comment by the one tar to the signal rockets is a reference to the mixed signal flags that were flown by the Admiral's ship. In addition the text of the cartoon makes mention of M----WS who must be Matthews, the Admiral of the fleet. <br /><br />Also are you sure that the cartoon is from 1748? The text in the bottom says "April 26, 1745 Publsh'd according to Act of Parliament".John Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768771014487413321noreply@blogger.com