‘Black Joke’ took part with great success in the Navy’s anti-slavery operations on the West Coast of Africa in 1829-32. Her career is celebrated in this retrospective multi-frame watercolour, which combines seven separate images and a highly-detailed series of neatly-ruled captions in black ink.

‘Black Joke’ herself is shown starboard-broadside on under full sail in the centre of the main image (the entire top half of the sheet), flying a white ensign and a pennant from her maintop. A second, larger ship, presumably the fifth-rate frigate ‘Sybille’, is resting at anchor back left. The caption reads: “H.M.Brig. ‘Black Joke’ . 1 . 18pr gun . 34 men | Lieut. Commander Henry Downes R.N. (retired Commander 1829) | Senior Mate Thomas Philip Le Hardy R.N. (retired Commander 1837) | Mate Edward Harris Butterfield R.N. (retired Captain 1841) | Of the prizes made by Black Joke alone it may be sufficient to particularize, as indicative of the valour that won them | A splendid vase of polished “Heart of Oak” with appropriate ornaments in Silver Gilt | was presented to Commander Downes as a tribute of admiration and respect from Commodore Collier for his gallant conduct”.

Below, in two rows of smaller images, are depicted broadside-on under sail (reading clockwise from top-left): “Spanish Brig ‘Providentia’. 14 guns. 80 men”; “Brazilian Brig ‘Vengador’. 8 guns. 645 slaves”; “Buenos Ayrean Privateer ‘Presidente’. 7 guns 97 men”; “Brigantine ‘El Hassey’. 6 guns”; “Spanish Brig ‘El Almirante’ 14 guns. 80 men. 10 . 18pdrs – 4 long 9 pdrs – 460 slaves” (this picture includes ‘Black Joke’, shown stern-on with her ensign prominent, and a boarding party in a rowing boat), and “Brigantine ‘Marianna’ 2 guns”.

The foot of the sheet is captioned: “H.M.S. ‘Sybille’. 48 guns. Commodore J.A.Collier – and her tender ‘Black Joke’ | captured 21 vessels – with upwards of 7000 slaves”.

The main image bears Bevan's monogram “IB” at bottom-left. This item is clearly the basis for a reproductive illustration of some sort, although the exact media has not as yet been ascertained.

The “vase” referred to sounds very much like one donated to the Museum in 2003 (ZBA3083; actually a wine cooler). The NMM collection also includes a snuff box (ZBA2435) made from the timbers of ‘Black Joke’ (note: this item’s description currently (Apr 2016) includes conflicting information about the end of Black Joke’s career).