拍品專文
This picture shows the 'Real Filipe', (114 guns), the flagship of Admiral Don Jose Navarro, and the disabled three-decker 90-gun 'Marlborough', commanded by Captain James Cornewall, beside her. The 60-gun 'Poder', seen on the right, commanded by Captain Don R. Errutia, was captured later in the action by Captain Edward Hawke in the 'Berwick' (70 guns), while on the left is seen the 'Namur', the 90-gun flagship of Admiral Mathews, wearing the flag of a Vice-Admiral of the Red, when he was in fact an Admiral of the Blue.
Thomas Mathews (1676-1751) served in several distinguished actions before taking up the post as Commissioner of the Navy at Chatham. But with the outbreak of war with France imminent, in 1741-2 he returned to the service as a Vice-Admiral of the Red and Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, although he had had no experience of commanding a fleet at sea and lacked support from both the Admiralty and his fellow officers. On the 10th February 1744, having waited for some time for the combined French and Spanish fleets to leave Toulon, he saw them coming out and making for the South. Due to a misinterpretation of his orders, the British fleet was in some disarray and on the morning of the 11th, was, in fact, in two parts. Seeing the French and Spanish slipping away, Mathews, without waiting for his fleet to join up, gave the signal to engage. In the ensuing chaos, the 'Namur' and 'Marlborough' were severely damaged; the French, coming to the rescue of the Spaniards, quickly achieved their aim, and turned north. They abandoned the recaptured 'Poder', and she was later burnt on Mathews orders. On his return to England, Mathew had to face a court-martial for his conduct and in June 1747 he was dismissed the service.
Thomas Mathews (1676-1751) served in several distinguished actions before taking up the post as Commissioner of the Navy at Chatham. But with the outbreak of war with France imminent, in 1741-2 he returned to the service as a Vice-Admiral of the Red and Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, although he had had no experience of commanding a fleet at sea and lacked support from both the Admiralty and his fellow officers. On the 10th February 1744, having waited for some time for the combined French and Spanish fleets to leave Toulon, he saw them coming out and making for the South. Due to a misinterpretation of his orders, the British fleet was in some disarray and on the morning of the 11th, was, in fact, in two parts. Seeing the French and Spanish slipping away, Mathews, without waiting for his fleet to join up, gave the signal to engage. In the ensuing chaos, the 'Namur' and 'Marlborough' were severely damaged; the French, coming to the rescue of the Spaniards, quickly achieved their aim, and turned north. They abandoned the recaptured 'Poder', and she was later burnt on Mathews orders. On his return to England, Mathew had to face a court-martial for his conduct and in June 1747 he was dismissed the service.