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Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)

Views of naval engagements and maps of battles

GEORGE [LEWIS] BALLISAT (C. 1763-C. 1821)

Folkestone, 1811 (Folkestone, Kent, England, UK) 51°05'00"N 01°11'00"E

published 6 May 1811

Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; hand coloured; edged with paper | 42.1 x 47.1 cm (image) | RCIN 735157

A view of the Cumberland in action with four French privateers off Folkestone on 13 January 1811. Napoleonic Wars (1803-15).

An account of this incident, under the heading 'Gallant Action', appeared in the Naval Chronicle for 1811 (republished 2010), pp.27-8. The crew were awarded protection from the impress for a period of three years as a reward for their bravery. The note ends: 'This is supposed to be the most gallant defence made by any merchant ship during the war; as her crew consisted of only twenty-six men, and those of the privateers, according to the prisoners' statement, to 270 men.'

Additional text: [bottom left, left of title, a note of the English Force; bottom right, right of title, a note of the French Force.]

Condition: no fold lines. Verso: slight surface dirt.
  • George [Lewis] Ballisat (c. 1763-c. 1821) (artist and publisher) [bottom left, below edge of view:] G. Ballisat del.; [bottom centre, below title:] Published May 6.th 1811, by G. Ballisat, Frederick Place, Newington Butts, Surry.

    Henri Merke (c. 1760-after 1820) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] Merke sculp.

    Subject(s)

    Cumberland (HMS)
    Navy-France
    Royal Navy
  • Watermark: None visible

    Condition: no fold lines. Verso: slight surface dirt

  • 36.5 x 47.1 cm (neatline)

    42.1 x 47.1 cm (image)

    45.7 x 50.5 cm (platemark)

    47.5 x 52.8 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    THE CUMBERLAND / Merchant Ship, / Engaging 4 French Lugger Privateers / off Folkestone, on the 13,,th Jan,,y 1811. [bottom centre, below view]

    Additional text:

    [bottom left, left of title, a note of the English Force; bottom right, right of title, a note of the French Force.]

    Annotations:

    (Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] XV-157. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 209*; [bottom right, black pencil:] S & B [or T or J or I and R?] £1-1-6; [centre, black pencil:] 1811-1.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Naval Engagement The Cumberland Merchant Ship engaging four French Lugger Privateers off Folkestone, on the 13.th of Jan.y 1811: by G. Ballisat, engraved by Merke, 1811.

  • Subject(s)

    Folkestone, Kent, England, UK (51°05'00"N 01°11'00"E)

Page revisions

  • 3 November 2024