- Museum number
- 1868,0808.4762
- Title
- Object: The late auction at St Eustatia
- Description
-
The interior of an auction-room; through an open door (left) is the sea, with ships flying the British flag. In the auctioneer's rostrum, on the extreme right, stands Admiral Rodney, in profile to the left, holding up a shoe-buckle in his right hand, a hammer in his left. He is saying, "This fashionable Pair of Buckles going to be knock'd down to their Original Owner at one Guinea does nobody advance upon one Guinea 2 going going 22s is bid Gentlemen". His clerk, in officer's uniform (General Vaughan), stands below him in the desk which forms the lower part of the rostrum; he is writing (with his left hand) "The Last days sale...". A man stands obsequiously in front of him, hat in hand, a folded umbrella or parasol under his left arm, saying "if I purchase the Provision & naval Stores that were formerly mine, may I Ship them to any Neutral Island". Vaughan answers, "Ay Ay, if you give a good price for them you may Ship them to the Devil, & goe with them yourself as super-cargo if you like it". On the side of the rostrum papers are nailed up inscribed, "Inventories of Effects belonging to the Inhabits of St Eustatia". Below hangs a bunch of keys labelled "Keys of the Stores". Behind the man speaking to Vaughan is a group of three men: a Spaniard in a cloak and feathered hat is seen in back-view; a man facing Rodney bids "a Guinea" for the buckles, his own shoes are without buckles and unfastened; behind him a Dutchman with a folded parasol under his arm says, "Twenty two Shillings".
On the left three men stand in conversation; one says, "When will Ad------l Rod-----y & Genl: Vaun leave this Island". A Spanish don answers him: "I shou'd imagine tomorrow, as the Sale will be closed to night". The third, who holds a closed umbrella, says, "if he had done his Duty, & had been with his fleet instead of keeping 3 ships of the line here while he was minding the sales we should have beat the french off Martinico".
On the extreme left, looking out to sea through the open door are a Frenchman and a Dutchman. The Frenchman asks "What ship is that"; the Dutchman (in back view) answers "The Sandwich waiting till the sales are Close'd to take Adm------l Rod------y & Gen Vaun to the Fleet". Outside the door a man is about to enter the auction-room. A man standing by the door offers him a paper, saying "walk in Sir heres a Catalogue". 11 June 1781
Etching
- Production date
- 1781
- Dimensions
-
Height: 248 millimetres
-
Width: 349 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- (Description and comment from M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', V, 1935)
A satire on the conduct of Rodney and Vaughan at St. Eustatius. Rodney wrote, 4 Mar. 1781, to Germain, "Except for supplies from the island and from British subjects there, who meanly condescended to become Dutch burghers (and as such they shall be treated) the American Revolution had long been at an end". 'Hist. MSS. Comm.', 'Stopford Sackville MSS.', ii, 1910, p. 202. The spoils were given by the king to the Army and Navy, consequently, it was alleged, Rodney and Vaughan remained there for three months, and were accused of plundering and deporting Englishmen. Rodney confiscated the whole of the merchandise, sold some by auction and sent the rest under convoy to England (see BMSat 5837-5839), and deported English, Dutch, Jews, French, and Americans. Charges and counter-charges filled the newspapers, and there was an important debate on 14 May 1781, on Burke's motion for an inquiry (cf. BMSat 5854). It was defeated, but was again brought forward on 4 Dec. 1781, when Rodney and Vaughan defended themselves, Rodney asserting that his seizure was for the sole benefit of the Crown, since he did not learn of the king's gift till long afterwards. 'Parl. Hist.' xvii. 218 ff., 769 ff. 'Ann. Reg.', 1781, p. 195; 1782, pp. 137 ff. Wraxall, 'Memoirs', 1884, ii, pp. 115-17. W. M. James, 'The British Navy in Adversity', 1926, pp. 254 ff. The seizure of English goods involved Rodney in long and expensive lawsuits, claims being made against him exceeding the whole value of the captured property. Mundy, 'Life of Rodney', ii. 366-9. J. F. Jameson, 'St. Eustatius in the American Revolution', 'Am. Hist. Review', viii, p. 697 ff. To Rodney's prolonged stay at St. Eustatius has been attributed the loss of the command of the sea leading to the surrender at York Town. Mahan, 'Influence of Sea Power', 1890, pp. 382-400.
For St. Eustatius see BMSat 5557, &c, and p. 559.
For the dismay caused to the patriots by its capture see BMSat 5923.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.4762