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BIJOUTERIE

Currency:GBP Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 GBP
BIJOUTERIE
BIJOUTERIE - A George III Irish silver-gilt City of Cork Freedom box, oval, with moulded borders and plain thumbpiece, the hinged cover engraved with the arms of Cork within decorative foliate scroll mantling, flag and anchor, engraved inscription to the underside, '17th August 1780 The Freedom at Large of the City of Cork presented in this Box to John McBride Esq. Captain of his Majesty's Ship of War the Bienfeisant for his gallant Behaviour in Attacking and takeing [sic] a large French Ship of War near the Harbour of Cork and thereby preserving a number of Merchant Ships bound from Cork to America', 3.5in wide, 1.25in high, sponsor's mark only, rubbed but probably William Reynolds of Cork, 1780, 4.5oz (see illustration) John McBride (d.1800) was appointed commander of the Beinfeisant, a ship of some 64 guns, on 6 November 1776. The 'Attacking and takeing' of the Comte d'Artois for which he was awarded the honour of the Freedom of the City of Cork took place on the 13th August, 1780. The Bienfaisant was instructed to find a large French privateer that was blocking the fairway on the south coast of Ireland. The ship, the Comte d'Artois had 60 guns and carried over six hundred men. Although superior in number of men, the French attempt to grapple and board the Beinfeisant was unsuccessful due to Mcbride's sustained fire. After a sharp action of a little over an hour and with the threat of fresh attack from another ship, the Charon, the Comte d'Artois surrendered. Exhibited by Lord Scarsdale at the Fine Art Exhibition, Derby, 1877, no.28