INDENTThe practice of presenting gold and enamel Swords and Freedom Boxes, already popular in England in the 18th. Century, became most widespread during the Napoleonic Wars. At this period no official medals for campaign service or awards for gallantry were given. Twenty-five Gold Medals had been awarded to Admirals and Captains of Lord Howe's fleet for the victory of 1st. June 1794, but these honorary awards were reserved for the most senior ranks only. Army Gold Medals and Crosses, introduced in 1813, were similarly restricted. It is not surprising therefore that during this period numerous private awards, including medals as well as Presentation Swords and Boxes, were distributed. Among the individuals who presented awards was Mr Davison, Nelson's Prize Agent, who distributed medals to all officers and men present at the Battle of the Nile 1798, and medals to the Crew of H.M.S. Victory after the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805. Mr Boulton, a manufacturer from Birmingham also ordered a medal to be struck commemorating Trafalgar, and this was awarded to all seamen present at the Battle. Of the many corporations who presented awards, the Honourable East India Company had perhaps the most consistent record, regularly rewarding officers and men in the company's employ with both medals and 'prize-money'. After the capture of Seringapatam 4th. May 1799, medals in gold, silver-gilt, silver, bronze and pewter were distributed among all officers and men, but it was the official prize money which naturally attracted most attention. Altogether #1,140,000 was distributed, ranging from the award of #100,000 to the Commander-in-Chief, Lt. Gen. Harris, to #7 to all privates. (The value of the booty plundered from Seringapatam of course amounted to many times the official prize money). The Company could also be generous to those who rendered valuable service but who were not in the Company's employ. After the destruction of the French fleet in Aboukir Bay in 1798, the Company voted Nelson a "present" of #10,000.

When compared to such lavish rewards, the presentations by Trinity House, Lloyds, the City of London, and other cities and large towns, are quite modest. Boxes and swords were sometimes of the value of 200 guineas, most frequently of 100 guineas, some were specified at 50 guineas. It was not unnatural for a body such as the City of London to announce publicly the value of these gifts, and it is interesting that the 50-guinea boxes were soon discontinued in favour of the more expensive versions. Contemporary attitudes to the fairness of such rewards is reflected in the City of London accounts for the year 1797. On 12th. December, outstanding payments for "gold boxes and swords' amounted to #945, while for "subscriptions to seamen's widows etc', only #500.

Vice Admiral Waldegrave's Box is a perfectly preserved example of James Morisset's work. The enamel plaques on the box, in common with those on other boxes and swords from Morisset's workshop, are of the finest quality. The scene on the lid depicts H.M.S Barfleur, Waldegrave's flagship, at about 3.00 p.m., two hours after the beginning of the action. Nelson in H.M.S. Captain had placed himself along the centre of the Spanish line at about 12.45 a.m., and together with H.M. ships Culloden, Blenheim and Excellent bore the brunt of the action. By the time the rest of the British line joined them, several Spanish ships had suffered badly. Admiral Jervis in H.M.S. Victory, closely supported by Waldegrave in the Barfleur, approached the Salvadore del Mundo. The Spanish ship had already been fired upon by the Excellent, and was clearly in a shattered state, both fore and main top masts being shot away. The arrival of two more British vessels was clearly too much for the crippled Spanard, and the ship struck her colours to the Victory. The enamelled scene shows the Victory pouring a broadside into the Salvadore del Mundo, and this follows several accounts of the action published immediately after the event. In fact the Victory did not need to fire a single shot at the Spanish ship, and the record was not corrected until some years later.

The enamelling was probably executed by James Montague, an employee of Morisset's, possibly at this time his pupil, and later accomplished enough to become his successor. The scene might have been copied from a watercolour, expecially commissioned from the popular naval artist Robert Cleveley.
There are only five City of London Freedom Boxes definitely known to be by Morisset. They were awarded to the following:

- Earl St. Vincent, for services in the West Indies, 1794-5
(National Maritime Museum, Greenwich)

- Admiral Lord Howe, for 1st. June, 1794
(private collection)

- Sir Robert Calder, for St. Vincent, 1797

- Captain Edward Berry, for the Nile, 1798
(National Maritime Museum, Greenwich)

- Vice Admiral the Hon. William Waldegrave, for St. Vincent, 1797,

In addition, the Box presented to Nelson and sold in these rooms on 12th. July 1895 (lot 109 #1,050), can with confidence be ascribed to Morisset. With the exception of the subject matter of the enamelled scene on the lid, which depicts H.M.S. Captain engaging the San Nicholas and San Josef, and the enamelled arms at the sides, it is identical to the Waldegrave Box. Since therefore three out of the five Boxes comissioned by the City of London in 1797 can be ascribed to Morisset, it is most probable that the other two, to Vice Admiral Thompson and Rear Admiral Parker, can also be attributed to him.