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The Seven Years War (1756-63)

Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war

JOHN ARCHER (D. 1799)

Plan of Le Palais, 1761 (Le Palais, Belle Île, France) 47°20'45"N 03°09'14"W

c.1761

Pencil, ink and watercolour on paper | Scale: 1:4,750 approx [probably drawn to 1:4,800] | RCIN 733031.a

A plan of the town and citadel of Belle Isle, besieged and taken by the British, commanded by Major-General Studholme Hodgson (Master of the Horse to the Duke of Cumberland; 1707/8-1798), between 2 May and 7 June 1761. Seven Years War (1756-63). Oriented with east-north-east to top (cardinal points).

This plan shows a more restricted area than Bramham's survey at RCIN 733030. The British camps are not shown; the layout of the town, while superficially similar, is markedly different in detail. John Archer's journal of the siege is at RCIN 733031.b.

Additional text: [bottom left, a key, a-i, 104, to the bastions, powder magazine, parallels, batteries, etc.]

Condition: six fold lines; formerly folded to 15.5 x 8.1 cm. Verso: slight surface dirt on outside fold panels.
  • John Archer (d. 1799) (draughtsman) [bottom right, inside neatline:] I. Archer. F.

    Subject(s)

    Army-France
    Army-GB
  • Watermark: Strasburg lily and bend, the letters L V G below

    Mark, stamped: 926

    Condition: six fold lines; formerly folded to 15.5 x 8.1 cm. Verso: slight surface dirt on outside fold panels

  • Scale: 1:4,750 approx [probably drawn to 1:4,800]. Scale bar: 1200 Feet [77 mm =].

    23.6 x 42.2 cm (neatline)

    24.0 x 42.6 cm (image)

    27.6 x 46.6 cm (sheet)

  • Manuscript title:

    ATTACKS of the CITADEL / of / PALAIS / on the / ISLAND of BELLISLE / 1761. [top right]

    Additional text:

    [bottom left, a key, a-i, 104, to the bastions, powder magazine, parallels, batteries, etc.]

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Palais 2 May - 7 June 1761.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [top left, black pencil, erased:] XIII/31. (Verso) none.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Palais A drawn Plan of the Attacks of the Citadel of Palais on Belle Isle in 1761: by I. Archer Eng.r with a MS. Journal of the Siege from the 30.th of May.

  • Subject(s)

    Le Palais, Belle Île, France (47°20'45"N 03°09'14"W)

Page revisions

  • 25 May 2024