AN HISTORICALLY-INTERESTING BELL POSSIBLY FROM THE BRIG/FIRESHIP MARY , 1808
cast in bell metal with crown top and raised lettering to front inscribed BRIG MARY 1808, complete with clapper -- 12¾ x 12¾in. (32.5 x 32.5cm.)

The distinctive crown top suggests this bell was probably for naval rather than mercantile use. A candidate which fits quite neatly was one of twenty vessels nominally 'hired' in 1809 to supplement Lord Cochrane's fireship attack on the powerful French squadron anchored in the Basque Roads. Mary is recorded as a brig of 100 tons and, like all these craft, was expended in the action of 11th April 1809. How her bell was recovered is not known at present, but the Île-d'Aix (the island and fort guarding the Basque Roads and harbour) is in shallow water - in fact many fireships missed their mark and one even grounded. The attack at Basque Roads comprised eleven ships of the line, seven frigates, four brig-sloops, two bomb vessels, six brigs, one schooner, two cutters, forty transports or fireships and three Congreve rocket barges - but Lord Gambier refused to press home the advantage and forced a furious Cochrane to withdraw. Whilst great damage had been inflicted, the threat was not eradicated and the remaining French squadron continued to harry allied shipping until the end of the war.

++Structurally overall fine condition; old marks and abrasions commensurate with wear; inscription worn but readable; clapper rusted.