Log recording the proceedings of the prize LA PUGLIESE, kept by the master, Richard Hildyard, from 8 September 1809 onwards. It also covers the movements of the crew as prisoners of war after the vessel was wrecked near Brindisi on 4 October 1809.

The French schooner LA PUGLIESE was captured at Barletta by boats from HMS MERCURY (1779), on 7 September 1809. The log is illustrated with pen and ink drawings. There are two loose drawings, one showing the capture of a Venetian gunboat by boats from the MERCURY at Rovigno on 1 April 1809.

Administrative / biographical background
The log belonged to Admiral Sir Watkin Owen Pell, who as first lieutenant on HMS MERCURY, led the attack on LA PUGLIESE. It relates to the painting BHC0592 in the National Maritime Museum collection.