A naive drawing depicting the chase and capture of 'Le Decade' by the 'Naiad' on 24 August 1798, off Cape Finisterre (north-west Spain). The 'Naiad', 38 guns, was built by Hall & Co. at Limehouse on the Thames and launched in 1797. She was commissioned in 1798 under Captain William Pierrepont and was involved in action against the French until the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, including being among the frigates at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

A cartouche of laurel leaves on the right hand side of the drawing describes the action:
'His Majesty’s Ship / NAIAD of 38 guns Capt. / Pierepont Engages & takes / LE. DECADE a french / Frigate of 44 guns off / Cape Finister [sic] Aug 24 / 1798'

The French ship is shown in the foreground, with the 'Naiad' partially hidden, and clouds of smoke between the two. The crews appear to be on deck, flags are flying and both ships are in full sail. The whole scene is enlivened by various mythical beings and fish, including Neptune and his wife, Amphitrite, in red high heels and a large skirt, being pulled along in a chariot (flying the royal standard and a white ensign) by hippocamps; a sea nymph, or naiad, with a mirror (a naiad also appears on the badge of HMS 'Naiad'); Fame blowing her trumpet; Britannia, accompanied by a very small, anxious lion; and Hope, with her anchor.

In 1799, still patrolling off Cape Finisterre, the 'Naiad' shared in the capture of the Spanish frigates 'Thetis' and 'Santa Brigida' - carrying £600,000 in Mexican treasure - with three other British frigates. Each captain became rich, reaping over £40,000 in prize money, and even seamen got £182 each from the treasure, excluding the value of the Spanish ships, which the Navy purchased. These were huge sums at the time. 'Naiad's' most glorious hour came when, under Captain Thomas Dundas, she served among the frigates at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. She is mentioned in Nelson’s private diary as sending the signal for enemy ships appearing and, after the battle, she towed the dismasted 'Belleisle' to Gibraltar for repair. She took part in many other actions during the war, and continued in service in the Mediterranean until 1826, when she was paid off. After this she stayed in use in South America, and was not broken up until 1898. She had survived longer than any other British-built ship at Trafalgar except for the 'Victory' (though the French-built 'Implacable', ex-'Duguay-Trouin', also lasted to 1949).

This is an excellent example of English naive art, depicting a real event with great inventiveness and immediacy. The artist, probably a witness to the engagement, has not only observed the two ships with great attention to detail, but also demonstrates an awareness of various classical and symbolic motifs which he uses to illustrate his story. Curiously, there are no other depictions of this action in the Museum's collection. One might expect such a work to have been based on an engraving, but it would appear to be ‘original’. The Museum purchased it in 2008, partly on the grounds that it previously had nothing like it in its collection. In great contrast, it has long had a pair of very fine pastel portraits, by John Russell RA, of Captain William Pierrepont of the 'Naiad' and his wife Maria, both dated 1801 (PAJ2899, PAJ2906). [amended PvdM 5/09 and 12/10]