Drawing, inscribed at top, apparently by the artist 'The Burning of the Affrica Adml Reggio's ship of 74 guns about 10 or 12 Lgs. [leagues] to windward of the Havannah by the Cornwall and Strafford. Oct 1748.' It shows the aftermath of the Battle of Havana - also called Knowles's Action - on 1 October when Admiral Don Andres Reggio, commanding the Spanish squadron in the 'Africa' (nominally of 70 guns but reported to have been carrying 75) had been chased into a small bay and burnt his ship to prevent her capture. Knowles's flagship 'Cornwall' (80 guns) is on the ight and the 'Strafford' (50) on the left. The squadrons had met off Cuba when Knowles attempted to intercept Spanish treasure ships, and Regio had sailed from Havana to protect them.Though a victory for Knowles, it was one characterized by a notable lack of cohesion on the British side and recriminations afterwards, which included Knowles being reprimanded following a court martial. Regio's incompetence saw him court-martialled in Spain on 30 different counts and it has been observed by a modern commentator that had Knowles faced a French squadron instead the result would have been very different. [PvdM 4/13]