Prints

The Honourable East India Company iron steam ship Nemesis, Lieutenant W. H. Hall, Royal Navy Commander, with boats of Sulphur, Calliope, Larne and Starling destroying the Chinese war junks, in Anson's Bay, January 7th 1841.

One of the most dramatic views of a Naval encounter at Chuenpee in the Pearl River.

On November 7 1841, immediately after the capture of the forts at Tycocktow and Chuenpee, the Nemesis, with the boats of the other ships, attacked the Chinese squadron in Anson's Bay, north of Chuenpee and a vivid account is given in, "The Nemesis in China", W.D. Bernard, from which the following is taken, "The Chinese fleet of about fifteen war junks were moored in a good position in shallow water, but the Nemesis was able, owing to her small draught, to bring her 32 pounder guns into good range, and the first Congreve rocket fired was seen to enter a large junk against which it was directed... and almost the instant afterwards it blew up with a terrific explosion, lauching into eternity every soul on board, and pouring forth its blaze like the mighty rush of fire from a volcano.

The English artist Edward Duncan was originally trained as an engraver, and is best known for his fine marine prints. He was introduced to marine painting by William Huggins whose works he engraved and whose daughter Bertha he married.

References

Orange, James  The Chater Collection 1924  Section IV No. 11. Illustrated in colour p.125.

Chater IV.11