Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)
Views of naval engagements and maps of battles
Battle of Pulau Aur, 1804
To the HON.BLE the COURT of DIRECTORS of the AFFAIRS of the EAST INDIA COMPANY. / This Print of the Action between the CHINA FLEET, under the Command of Sir Nathaniel Dance, & a Squadron of French SHIPS of WAR...
published 24 Nov 1804Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper. Laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto. | 46.4 x 68.4 cm (image) | RCIN 735111.a
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.
This view shows, in the left foreground, the Warren Hastings, with the Ocean immediately behind; in the right foreground, the Dorsetshire. The three ships in the middle foreground, left to right, are the Exeter, Henry Addington and Cumberland. The line of ships in the background are, from left to right, the Wexford, Coutts, Abergavenny, Bombay Castle, Alfred, Hope, Warley, Camden, Ganges, Royal George. To the right of the Royal George, at the edge of the view, is the French ship Marengo. Directly behind the Marengo are three more French ships, the La Belle Poule, Semilante, and Atlante.
For further reading, see:
J.K. Laughton, 'Dance, Sir Nathaniel (1748–1827)', Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford, 2004; online edition 2008.
Condition: view and index plate: no fold lines.
George Andrews (active 1794-1813) (publisher) Published Nov.r 24. 1804, by Geo. Andrews, N.o 7 Charing Cross. [bc of Index Plate:] Published Nov. 24. 1804, by G. Andrews, 7 Charing Cross.
After Francis Sartorius (d. after 1808) (artist) [bottom left, below edge of view:] Painted by F. Sartorius from a Drawing taken on Board the Henry Addington.
William Barnard (d. 1849) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] Engrav'd by W. Barnard.
Watermark: None visible on print, on backing paper: J WHATMAN [date cropped?]
Condition: view and index plate: no fold lines
42.2 x 68.4 cm (neatline)
46.4 x 68.4 cm (image)
50.2 x 75.1 cm (platemark)
51.9 x 76.8 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
To the HON.BLE the COURT of DIRECTORS of the AFFAIRS of the EAST INDIA COMPANY. / This Print of the Action between the CHINA FLEET, under the Command of Sir Nathaniel Dance, & a Squadron of French SHIPS of WAR, Commanded by Adm,,l Linois, in the CHINA SEA, on the 15,,th Feby 1804; representing the Commencing of the Attack / led on by CAPT. I. F. TIMINS, in the ROYAL GEORGE, is most respectfully dedicated by their most obedient humble Servant / George Andrews. [bottom, below view]
Annotations:
(Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] 6; [top left, black pencil:] XV-111a. (Verso) bottom left, black pencil:] 163.b.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement View of the Action between the China Fleet under the Command of Sir Nathaniel Dance, and a Squadron of French Ships of War commanded by Admiral Linois, in the China Sea, on the 15.th of Feb.y 1804; by Sartorius, engraved by Barnard, and published by Andrews, 1804: with a Key.
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.b
J.K. Laughton, 'Dance, Sir Nathaniel (1748–1827)', Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford, 2004; online edition 2008.
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
