Lot Essay
The French privateer Invention was captured off the northern coast of Spain by H.M.S. Immortalite, 36 guns, on 27 July 1801. Invention, only nine days out from Bordeaux on her maiden voyage, was an extraordinary four-master designed by her commander and armed with 24 6-pdrs. on a single deck. Further information about this action is contained in a typed extract from James's Naval History of Great Britain typed on a label attached to the reverse.