Capture of Princesa, Peter Monamy, circa 1740s

The taking of the princessa a spanish man of war, april 8, 1740, by his majesties ships the lenox, kent and oxford this engraving depicts the taking of the spanish 64-gun princesa (spelt princessa in the print) off finisterre on 8 april 1840 by the british ships lenox, kent and orford (incorrectly named in the print as oxford). Princesa is shown port-broadside battered in the foreground with her masts broken and sails shot through, looking almost like a hulk. Meanwhile, one of the british ships is firing at her whilst the other two stay back. Engraving by nathaniel parr, after peter monamy. Printed by bowles & carver, and robert wilkinson. Text in english below image: 'the taking of the princessa [sic] a spanish man of war, april 8, 1740, by his majesties ships the lenox, kent and oxford. / n. B. Princessa had 68 guns mounted, but was capable of mounting 86. Her breadth by the beam is 50 feet 4 inches which is four inches broader than our first rates: 152 foot by the keel, which is two foot longer / than our first rates: 166 foot 3 inches on the gun deck, & draws 26 foot water abaft and 23 1/2 before which is a great deal more than our first rates draw. She had 600 men on board of whom 200 were killed. Her / commander was an old experience officer & bravely fought the ship for 6 hours. '. Date: circa 1740s.