City of London Freedom box presented to Vice-Admiral Charles Thompson (1740?-1799) for his services as second-in-command at the Battle off Cape St Vincent 14 February 1797.

An oval gold box, the lid mounted with a painted enamel miniature of the Battle off Cape St Vincent showing HMS 'Britannia', with the Vice-Admiral's blue flag at the fore, engaged with the enemy. The gold border of the lid has an inner decoration of laurel and an outer border of oak leaves and acorns, with a ribbon bow at the front. The base of the box is engraved with a port view of HMS 'Britannia' firing a gun, the sails with shot holes. All is within a relief border, composed at the top of oak leaves and acorns, surmounted by a speaking trumpet and ribbon inscribed 'BRITANNIA'; below are crossed palm branches in a ribbon scroll.

Around the sides are eight oblong painted enamel panels separated by draped columns, and three small oval plaques on the sides of the lid. The long panel at the front of the box has the City of London coat of arms and motto 'DOMINE DIRIGE NOS', supported by two dragons, and on the front of the lid the London crest of a dragon's wing. The long enamel panel at the back is painted with a naval crown with a laurel branch to the left and oak leaves to the right. At the right hand end the panel is painted with the shield of Thompson's arms (a seahorse and chevron wavy, with stars and radiant sun in chief), and a trophy of arms, flags, anchor etc behind the shield. His crest, a unicorn, is above on the side of the lid. At the other end are his initials CT in a small oval with a trophy of arms, guns, flags and anchor, and above on the lid his unicorn crest is repeated. The other four smaller enamel side panels are painted with four different maritime trophies.

The interior of the lid is inscribed: ‘WATSON MAYOR. A Common Council holden in the Chamber of the GUILDHALL of the CITY of LONDON, on Friday the 10th day of March 1797 Resolved UNANIMOUSLY That the Thanks of THIS COURT be given to Vice Admiral Thompson, Vice Admiral the Hon. Willm. Waldegrave, Rear Admiral Parker & Commodore Nelson, for their gallant behaviour on the 14th of February last in defeating the Spanish Fleet, and that they be presented, severally with the FREEDOM of this CITY, in a GOLD BOX. Note Sir Robt. Calder omitted by mistake, afterwards rectified by a like Vote'.

The freedom box is in its original red leather case lined with white silk. The box was acquired together with Thompson's Flag Officer's Gold Medal and ribbon (ZBA2977) presented for the same action, and a collection of papers relating to the battle. The watercolour drawing by Robert Cleveley, on which the enamel on the lid of the box is based, is also in the NMM (PAF5854).