Collecting Antique Naval Prints - Capture of La Pique Jan 5th 1795

​Another exceptional aquatint print from James Jenkins The Naval Achievements of Great Britain. To give you even more of an insight into the event recorded I've shared a brief excerpt from the original written account published below this print.

'La Pique', a French 40-gun frigate, was captured by 'Blanche', a Royal Navy frigate of 32 guns, after several hours of fierce fighting in the early hours of 5 January 1795, off Guadeloupe, during which 'Blanche''s captain Robert Faulknor was fatally wounded by musket-ball shot. 'Blanche', with only her foremast intact, is shown on the right of the picture in starboard-broadside view, just ahead of, and firing her stern guns at, 'La Pique', whose toppling mizzen is about to leave her completely dismasted.

Above:  Capture of La Pique, January 5th 1795. Published Sept 1st 1816 at 48 Strand for J. Jenkins Navel Achievements.  From The Naval achievements of Great Britain and Her Allies from 1793 to 1817 by J. Jenkins.

Excerpt from the written account as published: 
Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant F. Watkins, First of the Blanche, to Vice-Admiral CALDWELL,  Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in the West Indies, dated January 5, 1795. 
I take the earliest opportunity of informing you of my arrival here with La Pique, a French frigate of 38 guns, belonging to the National Convention of France; which Captain Faulkner brought to action at a quarter-past twelve a.m. Mariegalante E. half S. three miles. It is with the utmost regret I have to inform you, that he fell in the action. In him his Majesty has lost a brave and gallant officer, whom I most sincerely lament, as must every one who knew his merit. 
I cannot sufficiently express my thanks to Lieutenants Milne and Pricket, also to the other officers, and the ship's company, for their cool and determined bravery on this occasion; and am happy to add, that the enemy's ship struck her colours at a quarter-past five p.m. From the best information I have been able to obtain, she had 360 men on board when we brought her to action, and I have great reason to suppose her loss to be about 70 killed and 110 wounded. 
Inclosed I have the honour to send you the return of killed and wounded on board his Majesty's ship Blanche. 
(Signed) 
F. WATKINS, First Lieutenant. Killed, eight (including Captain Faulkner); wounded, twenty.
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How to Identify the Prints:
The original prints from "The Naval Achievements of Great Britain. From the Year 1793 to 1817" are aquatint engravings on a medium weight wove paper.  All the plates identify at bottom left Painted by T. Whitcombe and bottom right T. Sutherland (sculpt) who produced the aquatint engravings.  Some plates were engraved by Jeakes and Bailey after Whitcombe.  Each plate is accompanied by text pages describing the action, often with lists of ships captured or sunk, and excerpts from contemporary bulletins, dispatches, letters, and speeches.  The first edition appeared in 1817.  Early issues have watermarks of J. Whatman with the undated watermark IIS&S  on some plates. The vignette title page was uncoloured in the first issue.  The approx engraved image area of the plates are 7" x 10.25" (175mm x 260mm). Engraved plate mark area is approx 8.5 x 11.75 (215mm x 300mm). The folio sheet size is approx 11.5" x 14" (290mm x 355mm).

You can see more prints from Jenkins The Naval Achievements of Great Britain, From the Year 1793 to 1817 HERE.  If you're interested in a specific print and you cannot see it on my website please feel free to message me.