A view of the beginning of the action between H.M. sloop Arrow and Acheron by the French off Cape Palos on 5 February 1805. Napoleonic Wars (1803-15).
<p>The captain of the bomb vessel HMS Acheron was Arthur (later Sir Arthur, and Rear-Admiral) Farquhar (1772-1843). The Acheron (8) and the Arrow (28) were, under Farquhar's command, in charge of a convoy, but were captured, after a strenuous defence, by the two larger French frigates Incorruptible and Hortense. Court martialled after the action, Farqhar was honourably acquitted.
</p><p>This view shows the Acheron in the left foreground being attacked by one of the French frigates, and the Arrow in the right foreground, under fire from the other French ship.
</p><p>One of a pair of prints; the companion view is at RCIN 735116.The original painting by Francis Sartorius is in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, (BHC0536).
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George III catalogue entry: Naval Engagement View of the commencement of the gallant defence made by H.M. Sloop Arrow, R.B. Vincent Esq.r commander, and H.M. Bomb Vessel Acheron, A. Farquhar Esq.r com.r, against the French Frigates l'Hortense, and l'Incorruptible on the 4.th of Feb.y 1805, off Cape Palos: by Sartorius, engraved by Jeakes and published by Andrews, 1805.
<bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23831758" class="extiw" title="d:Q23831758"><span title="British engraver and draftsman (1778-1829)">Joseph Jeakes</span></a>
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