A satire on "hireling constables", that is, on constables who were paid as substitutes for parishioners who were bound to serve annually without pay. The interior of a watch-house, where the constable of the night sits in an armchair, wearing a hat and holding a long staff. Watchmen are bringing in persons arrested during the night, others sit or stand about; some are smoking. All the figures have the heads of apes. A watchman bringing in a young woman shows the constable his broken lantern. He is followed by a watchman bringing in a well-dressed young man. Other watchmen, with a woman wearing an apron, are seen through a large open doorway; behind them are buildings and the tower of Westminster Abbey. On the top of the door, which opens inwards, sits a large owl. A large fire blazes. The room is lit by a lantern hung from the roof and two large candles. Large flagons of drink are in evidence. Verses (eighteen lines) are engraved beneath the design, whose tenor is that the young woman is used by the constable as a decoy, the man is charged (falsely) with having assaulted the watch and broken the lantern. The constable acts as if he were a magistrate: "At Night Mr Constable, great as Sir John" (that is, Sir John Fielding, see BMSat 5599), and discharges the young man, ordering him to
<p><br><br>"Give the Man half a Crown for a Lanthorn &amp; Plaister, 
<br>And somewhat for Drinking &amp; then good Night Master. 
<br>Thus one Cull aquited, Confederate Whore 
<br>Is Dispatch'd with a Charge to Decoy in some more."  1 December 1779
</p>
<br>Etching
1779<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1779-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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