拍品專文
By 1810, the Kingdom of Naples was under Napoleon's control with the throne occupied by Joachim Murat, one of France's most senior marshals. The 38-gun frigate H.M.S. Spartan, under the command of Captain Jahleel Brenton, was keeping station off Naples and proving such a nuisance to Neapolitan shipping that Murat ordered a small naval force to be assembled and sent out to destroy her. The frigate Ceres, accompanied by the corvette Fama and several smaller vessels, stood out of Naples on 3rd May whereupon Spartan not only gallantly defended herself but emerged victorious after giving the Ceres a severe mauling, forcing the Fama to sheer off and capturing the brig Sparviere.