Beschreibung:

To the Merchants trading in Russia, this Print representing the gallant Defence of Captn. Pearson in His Majesty's Ship Serapis, and the Countess of Scarborough Arm'd Ship Captn. Piercy, against Paul Jone's Squadron, whereby a valuable Fleet from the Baltic were prevented from falling into the hands of the Enemy, is with the greatest respect Inscribed .
London: John Harris 1 December 1781. Hand colored engraving after a painting by Robert Dodd engraved by J. Peltro, trimmed close but outside the platemark (13 ¼ x 18 ¼ inches, 360x465 mm, overall). Matted. important contemporary british image depicting the naval battle between the bonhomme richard and the serapis in 1779. On 23 September 1779, John Paul Jones, aboard his ship the Bonhomme Richard, engaged the HMS Serapis in the North Sea off the coast of Flamborough Head, England. The Serapis, commanded by Captain Pearson, had been escorting a convoy of merchant ships from the Baltic. After several hours of mutual bombardment, when asked if he wished to surrender, Jones's shouted his famous words “I have not begun to fight yet.” The naval battle raged on until finally the Bonhomme Richard rammed the British ship and boarded her. The engagement would make Jones America's first naval hero. This print, which depicts the two ships side by side, shows the British attempt to downplay the naval loss by congratulating Pearson on successfully protecting the convoy, which made it to shore safely. The text below the image is signed in print by John Harris. Grolier 6; Olds 76; Parker 78b; Smith 16.