This print is related to a pair of oil paintings by Robert Dodd (BHC0450 - from which this is taken - and BHC0449). The two ships shown were frigates of 36 guns, the 'Santa Margarita' - a Spanish-built prize - with 255 men under Captain Elliot Salter and the 'Amazone', under the Vicomte de Montguioté, with 301 men, though the British ship fired a heavier broadside. The action took place off Cape Henry, Virginia, during the War of American Independence, when Salter came in sight of eight large warships out of 13 on the coast under the French Admiral de Vaudreuil and was initially chased by the 'Amazone', which he could not engage for fear of the enemy squadron coming up in her support. However, in the mid-afternoon the bigger ships were no longer in sight and, at the request of his crew, he tacked to fight the French frigate, closing to within pistol shot and opening fire about 5pm. At that range they fought for an hour and a quarter before the' Amazone' surrendered with her captain dead, 70 killed, 70-80 more wounded, four feet of water in the hold and her masts and rigging badly damaged: the main and mizzen masts fell just as she struck. By comparison the British had five dead, 17 wounded and more manageable rigging damage. Salter put a lieutenant and 68 men - a third of his company - aboard his prize and took her in tow but the following morning found de Vaudreuil's full fleet back in sight. With regret he had to retrieve his men, abandon the 'Amazone' - still full of wounded - for the French to recover and make good an escape. This in itself was remarkable since he was chased by the French fleet for 48 hours and finally eluded them by his pilot's skill in running the ship amid the shoals at the mouth of the Delaware, where the enemy could not follow. Later in the year the young Nelson (then captain of the 'Albemarle') cited in a letter 'the dressing which Captain Salter gave the French frigate Amazon, for daring to leave the line-of-battle ships' in relation to the reluctance of another of de Vaudreuil's to follow that example and engage him off Boston.

'Amazone' is shown in stern view, dismasted, on the left.

Inscribed: "To Elliot Salter Esqr. Commander of his Majesties Frigate St Margaretta, this View of abandoning his Prize (L'Amazone) at Day Break on the Morning of the 30 of July 1782, is most respectfully Inscribed by his Obliged & most Obedient Humble Servant, Robt Dodd."