A French print of a rare French naval victory over British ships during the wars of 1793-1815. Île de France (modern Mauritius) in the Indian Ocean, was a base for French privateers which attacked British shipping in the area at that time. In July 1810 a British frigate squadron under Captain Samuel Pym made a determined attempt to capture the island by attacking the weaker side at Grand Port. However, on the 20 August superior French naval reinforcement arrived under Commodore Duperré and, after fierce action, most of the British force had to surrender. The British ‘Néréide’, 36 guns, was battered into submission with 92 dead and only 52 uninjured in a company of 281, and the British ‘Sirius’ and ‘Magicienne’ were burnt by their crews to prevent capture. The French broke an undertaking to send their prisoners either to the Cape of Good Hope or England for formal exchange, but they were liberated when a more a powerful British squadron from the Cape captured the island in December 1811. Prizes then taken in Port Louis included those of Duperré’s ships that were still there and several captured British Indiamen. The ‘Néréide’ was also recovered, but too damaged for further service.

This view shows the aftermath of the action of 1810/ Duperre's ships are on the left, the 'Nereide' surrendered and dismasted to their left and what may be the burning 'Sirius' above the wreck of the 'Magicienne' [TBC]. The original oil painting by Pierre Julien Gilbert is in the Musee de la Marine, Paris [PvdM 9/08, amended 4/13]