An old salt starts to tell his tale to two top-hatted middle-class schoolboys in Greenwich Park, tracing the enemy line on the ground with his stick. This is one of a number of illustrations to a usefully descriptive article on 'Greenwich Fair' that appeared in the 'Illustrated London News', 22 April 1843, pp. 269 -70 . The relevant passage is on p. 269: ' We passed an old tar narrating some tale of battle to two little boys, who were devouring every word that fell from his lips with that enthusiastic credence that only little boys can exhibit...."You see, here was the French", he said, as he defined their imaginary situation...'. Greenwich Fair, which took place in the streets of the town at Whitsun, also saw the Park thronged with holiday makers. It was abolished in 1857 on grounds of public disorder, as a result of 'respectable' local pressure. This image is signed lower left and mounted on a sheet with PAI8792-PAI8795 and PAI8797.