Tankard and cover commemorating Captain William Pierrepont's part in the capture of the Spanish frigates 'Thetis' and 'Santa Brigida' - loaded with bullion from Mexico - off Cape Finisterre in 1799.

The silver-gilt tankard has a high domed lid set with eleven Spanish gold pieces dating between 1723 and 1799, the reigns of Charles, Archduke of Austria, and Charles III and IV. These coins were part of the treasure taken by Pierrepont as commander of the 'Naiad' from the Spanish 'El Thetis' and 'Santa Brigida.' The finial is in the form of a lion rampant supporting a shield with the monogram 'HBP', and is a later addition, being Victorian, by maker George Fox. The initials stand for Henry Bennett Pierrepont (1810-92), Pierrepont's youngest and eventually only surviving child.

The tankard has a scroll handle and acanthus leaf decoration on the lower part. A cartouche on either side contains the arms and crest of Pierrepont with motto 'PIE DEPONETE'. Inscribed between the cartouches is: 'To commemorate the 17th of October 1799. The day the two Spanish Galleons called EL THETIS and SANTA BRIGIDA were captured off the enemies Ports by a squadron of His Majesty's Ships as follows [in two columns headed 'Ships' and ' Captains']: Naiad: William Pierrepont Esqr; Ethalion: James Young Esqr; Triton: John Gore Esqr; Alcmane [sic] Henry Digby Esqr'.

See W. Laird Clowes: 'The Royal Navy: A History', vol. IV (1899), pp. 525-26:

'On October 15th [1799], the British frigate, Naiad, 38, Captain William Pierrerpont, cruising in the bay [of Biscay], sighted the two Spanish frigates, Sta. Brigida, 34, and Thetis, 34, with treasure from Mexico on board to the value of £600,000 [over £20 million in modern terms]. She at once gave chase, and early next morning saw another ship - a friend, the Ethalion, 38, Captain James Young, which also joined in the chase. A third British frigate, the Alcmene, 32, Captain Henry Digby, and a fourth, the Triton, 32, Captain John Gore, arrived on the scene after day broke. The two Spaniards then separated and took different courses. The Ethalion pursued the Thetis, passing the Sta. Brigida and firing into her. At 11.30, the Ethalion brought the Thetis to action, and, after a running fight of an hour, captured her. Meantime the Sta. Brigida doubled Cape Finisterre, closely pursued by the Triton. The latter was so unfortunate as to strike a reef, but was quickly got off, and at 7 A.M. brought the Spaniard to action. At the same time the Alcmene, steering so as to cut off the Sta. Brigida from the shore, engaged her on the other side. Thus assailed, the Sta. Brigida, after a furious resistance, hauled down her flag. All the three frigates and the Naiad were amongst the rocks, whence they succeeded in extricating themselves on a breeze springing up opportunely from the shore.

The Spanish frigates and their captors arrived at Plymouth on the 21st and 22nd. The treasure was in due course removed to London, and divided amongst the captors in the following proportion: Captains, £40,730 18s. each; Lieutenants, £5091 7s. 3d; warrant-officers, £2468 10. 9d; Midshipmen, £791 17s.; seamen and Marines, £182 4s 9d. The Spanish frigates were not purchased for the Navy.'

This capture was also notable as part of the basis of a long-running prize-money dispute between Nelson and John Jervis, Earl St Vincent, in that the latter had returned to England at the time for health reasons leaving Nelson as acting C-in-C in the Mediterranean, but had not technically resigned. This meant he received the flag-officer's prize share of £13,000 and Nelson nothing. The latter lodged formal legal objections and the case was only resolved with a payment of £10,000 to Nelson in 1803. The Museum also has a superb pair of pastel portraits of Captain and Mrs Pierrepont (PAJ2899 and PAJ2906) and a very unusual naive representation of the 'Naiad's' earlier capture of the French 'Le Decade' (ZBA4577).