Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)
Views of naval engagements and maps of battles
Battle of Pulau Aur, 1804
REPULSE of LINOIS by the CHINA FLEET
published Jan 1805Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 48.4 x 70.2 cm (image) | RCIN 735110
Commodore Dance sailed with the homeward-bound East India Company's fleet of 16 Indiamen, laden with trade goods and other property, and 11 other ships from Canton on 31 January 1804. Two weeks later, off Pulo Aor (now Pulau Aur) they encountered a French squadron whose admiral, Linois, mistook them for fighting ships of the line. After firing a few shots the French fled, pursued for a while by Dance. His successful and bold action in safely escorting the trade ships earned him a knighthood and considerable pecuniary rewards.
Dedication: [bottom, below title:] This View, comprising Portraits of the several Ships in the Fleet, on that memorable day, making Sail in pursuit of / the retreating Enemy; Is with the greatest respect Inscribed to the respective Commanders, By their Obed,,t Servant / Rob:t Dodd.
For further reading, see:
J.K. Laughton, 'Dance, Sir Nathaniel (1748–1827)', Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford, 2004; online edition 2008.
Condition: no fold lines; tear to right edge. Verso: surface dirt.
Robert Dodd (1748-1815) (publisher) [bottom centre, below dedication:] Published January 1805. by R. Dodd. Charing Cross. London.
Sir Nathaniel Dance (1748-1827) (dedicatee)
Watermark: J Ruse / 1800
Condition: no fold lines; tear to right edge. Verso: surface dirt
44.5 x 70.2 cm (neatline)
48.4 x 70.2 cm (image)
51.9 x 76.5 cm (platemark)
53.6 x 78.0 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
REPULSE of LINOIS by the CHINA FLEET. [bottom centre, below view]
Dedication:
[bottom, below title:] This View, comprising Portraits of the several Ships in the Fleet, on that memorable day, making Sail in pursuit of / the retreating Enemy; Is with the greatest respect Inscribed to the respective Commanders, By their Obed,,t Servant / Rob:t Dodd.
Annotations:
(Recto) [black pencil, between title and neatline, in Evelyn Heaton-Smith's hand:] 15 Feby. 1804; [top left, black pencil:] XV-110; [bottom left, black pencil:] 7. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, Evelyn Heaton-Smith's hand]: 163.c (ii); [bottom right, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] Pair £ 1.11.6.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement View of the China Fleet making sail in pursuit of the French Squadron commanded by Rear Admiral Linois, on the 15.th of Feb.y 1804: by R. Dodd, 1805.
Subject(s)
Pulau Aur Island, Johore, Malaysia (22°70'00"N 104°31'00"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
H. Parker, Naval battles from the collection of prints formed and owned by Commander Sir Charles Leopold Cust, With an introduction by C.N. Robinson, London, 1911, no.163.c
J.K. Laughton, 'Dance, Sir Nathaniel (1748–1827)', Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford, 2004; online edition 2008.
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
