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Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)

Views of naval engagements and maps of battles

WILLIAM DANIELL (1769-1837)

Strait of Malacca and Pulau Aur, 1804

THE HOMEWARD BOUND FLEET OF INDIAMEN FROM CHINA UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN DANCE ENGAGING AND REPULSING A SQUADRON OF FRENCH MEN OF WAR NEAR THE STRAITS OF MALACCA FEB.Y 15.TH 1804

published 10 Dec 1804

Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; hand coloured; laid down on card; the margins of the print have been coloured grey | 45.0 x 78.2 cm (image) | RCIN 735108

A view of the attack on 15 February 1804 by Rear-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand, comte de Linois (1761-1848) on the East India Company fleet, homeward bound from China, commanded by Commodore Nathaniel Dance (1748-1827), resulting in the French squadron retiring from the action. Napoleonic Wars (1803-15).

Dedication: [bottom centre, below text:] To Sir Nathaniel Dance Kn.t this Plate is by his permission respectfully inscribed by his obliged friend & Servant, / William Daniell.

Additional text: [the names of the ships Royal George, Ganges, Earl Camden, Warley and Marengo appear along the bottom edge below the position of their representation in the view. Bottom centre, below title, an account of the action; text begins:] On the morning of the 14.th Feb.y the fleet having arrived off Pulo Auro, near the entrance of the straits of Malacca, a french Squadron was discovered to the S.W. consisting of a line of Battle Ship three frigates & a Brig. … [bottom left, below view, a list of names of the East India Company ships:] COUNTRY SHIPS. ENGLISH SHIPS. [Bottom right, below view, a list of names of the French ships:] FRENCH SHIPS.

Condition: no fold lines. Verso: surface dirt; black pencil scribbles.
  • William Daniell (1769-1837) (artist, engraver and publisher) [bottom, to each side of the dedication:] Drawn Engraved & Published by William Daniell, [dedication] N.o 9 Cleveland Street, Fitzroy Square, London, Dec.r 10,th 1804.

    Sir Nathaniel Dance (1748-1827) (dedicatee)

  • Watermark: Indistinct

    Condition: no fold lines. Verso: surface dirt; black pencil scribbles

  • 40.3 x 78.2 cm (neatline)

    45.0 x 78.2 cm (image)

    48.2 x 85.3 cm (platemark)

    51.8 x 86.5 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    THE HOMEWARD BOUND FLEET OF INDIAMEN FROM CHINA UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN DANCE ENGAGING AND REPULSING A SQUADRON OF FRENCH MEN OF WAR NEAR THE STRAITS OF MALACCA FEB.15.TH 1804. [bottom centre, below view]

    Dedication:

    [bottom centre, below text:] To Sir Nathaniel Dance Kn.t this Plate is by his permission respectfully inscribed by his obliged friend & Servant, / William Daniell.

    Additional text:

    [the names of the ships Royal George, Ganges, Earl Camden, Warley and Marengo appear along the bottom edge below the position of their representation in the view. Bottom centre, below title, an account of the action; text begins:] On the morning of the 14.th Feb.y the fleet having arrived off Pulo Auro, near the entrance of the straits of Malacca, a french Squadron was discovered to the S.W. consisting of a line of Battle Ship three frigates & a Brig. … [bottom left, below view, a list of names of the East India Company ships:] COUNTRY SHIPS. ENGLISH SHIPS. [Bottom right, below view, a list of names of the French ships:] FRENCH SHIPS.

    Annotations:

    George III heading: none.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom left corner of view, black pencil:] 10. (Verso) [bottom left, in Evelyn Heaton-Smith’s hand?, black pencil:] 163.a; [bottom left, in a modern hand, black pencil:] CM 107 + 108.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Naval Engagement The homeward bound Fleet of th Indiamen from China under the command of Captain Dance, engaging and repulsing a Squadron of French Men of War near the Straits of Malacca, on the 15.th of Feb.y 1804: by W.m Daniell, 1804. [Marked as missing by Christian Bailey December 1987.]

  • Subject(s)

    Strait of Malacca (02°00'16"N 102°20'55"E)

    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 gives an account of this action but only lists the Daniell print which is at RCIN 735107.

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024