The Duc d'Orléans as a recruiting sergeant addresses a group of Billingsgate fish-wives who treat him with contempt and ridicule. He wears a frogged tunic and a fur cape; a scarf across his shoulder is inscribed 'Vive la liberté'.  In his left hand he holds a long pike. Beside him is a grotesque drummer, the Frenchman of caricature, who beats his drum with a ferocious scowl at the fish-wives. A young woman behind him on the extreme right holds up his long, stiffened queue and displays it to a companion. The fish-wives are ugly old women, with one comely younger one; they are drawn with great freedom and expressiveness, and are typical of insular insolence. One sits on the ground beside two baskets of fish, one filled with writhing eels. Five stand behind her, one (left) smoking a pipe clenches her fists; another (right) pours out a glass of gin.   Behind (right) are the columns of Billingsgate market, inscribed 'Billinsgate', and (left) sails and rigging. Above the design is etched 'Serjeant Kite' [from Farquhar's 'Recruiting Officer'].  24 October 1789
<br>Hand-coloured etching
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<p>Print made by: Thomas Rowlandson
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<dl><dd>Published by: S W Fores</dd></dl></div>
1789<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1789-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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