Collecting Antique Naval Prints - Lord Hotham's Action March 14th 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.

The Battle of Genoa (also known as the Battle of Cape Noli and in French as Bataille de Gênes) was a naval battle fought between French and allied Anglo-Neapolitan forces on 14 March 1795 in the Gulf of Genoa, a large bay in the Ligurian Sea off the coast of the Republic of Genoa, during the French Revolutionary Wars. The French fleet was led by Contre-amiral Pierre Martin and comprised 14 (later 13) ships of the line while the British Royal Navy and Neapolitan fleet, under Vice-Admiral William Hotham mustered 13 ships of the line. The battle ended with a minor British-Neapolitan victory and the capture of two French ships. (wikipedia)​

Above:  Lord Hotham's Action, March 14th 1795. Published Sept 1st 1816 at 48 Strand for J. Jenkins Naval 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: 
ADMIRAL HOTHAM'S ACTION, MARCH 14, 1795.
ADMIRAL HOTHAM having succeeded to the command of the British fleet in the Mediterranean, was chiefly employed in blockading that of the enemy in Toulon, and in the protection of the Island of Corsica. On the 25th February the admiral was obliged to put into Leghorn to refit, leaving out frigates to watch the enemy's motions, and to give him the earliest intelligence, should they put to sea. The French availed themselves of the absence of the British admiral to sail from Toulon, with the intention of attacking the Island of Corsica. Admiral Hotham having received this information, lost no time in pursuing them, and on the 14th March brought them to action, which ended in the capture of two sail of the line.

The annexed view represents, in the fore-ground, the captured ships La Ca-ira and Le Censeur; the former dismasted, the latter having her main-mast carried away: to the right is the Illustrious, with her foretop-mast, main and mizen-masts gone: to the left is seen the Courageux, with the loss of her main and mizen-masts. Two of the nearest ships in the background, on each side of the view, are frigates coming down, with little wind, to the assistance of the prizes and the disabled ships. The British fleet appears in the body of the background; and a small part of the French fleet, nearly out of sight, to the left.
Copy of a Letter from Admiral W. HOTHAM, dated on board the BRITANNIA, at Sea, March 16, 1795.  SIR,
You will please to inform their Lordships, that on the 8th instant, being then in Leghorn Road, I received an express from Genoa, that the French fleet, consisting of fifteen sail of the line and three frigates, was seen two days before off the Isle of Margaretta; which intelligence corresponded with a signal made from the Moselle, then in the offing, for a fleet in the north-west . . .
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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.