Lot Essay
The British frigate San Fiorenzo, 36, Captain George N. Hardinge, while sailing from Point du Galle, Ceylon, on her return to Bombay, fell in with the French frigate Piemontaise, 40, and immediately gave chase. The pursuit continued until 11:40 p.m. on the 6th, when a spirited action took place, but only continued for ten minutes, when the French frigate made sail ahead. The British vessel also made sail, and at daylight on the 7th the engagement continued at point blank distance, when the Piemontaise ceased firing, and bore up, leaving her antagonist much wounded about her masts. Her damages being repaired, the San Fiorenzo was again under a crowd of sail in pursuit, and at 4 p.m. on the 8th the British ship came up to within eighty yards of the Piemontaise and the action was again resumed when, unfortunately, Captain Hardinge was killed and Lieutenant William Dawson then took the Command. However, a close engagement continued till 5:49 p.m., when, greatly damaged about her masts and rigging, the French ship surrendered. The San Fiorenzo lost, in the three days, thirteen killed and twenty five wounded, and the Piemontaise forty-eight killed and one hundred and twelve wounded. The prize was carried into the roads of Colombo, and eventually added to the British navy under the same name.