This print shows sailors relaxing around their mess table, which was suspended by ropes between the guns, allowing the table to swing with the ship's motion. The men sit on sea chests with their mess utensils and bags of personal kit on the bulwark behind. As the print illustrates, conditions were very cramped and there was not enough room around the table for all. Ramrods and sponges for the guns can also be seen above on the deckhead. The print is one of a number by Cruikshank in 'Songs of the Late Charles Dibdin' (his collected sea and other songs, with some further addition) gathered up by his son Thomas Dibdin (John Murray, London, 1841, f. p. 29). It illustrates the song 'Saturday Night' on the facing page.