THE MOONLIGHT BATTLE
We have much pleasure in presenting our subscribers with the first engraving of Thomas Birch’s painting of John Paul Jones’ greatest sea-fight.
It illustrates the desperate encounter at the moment when a hand-grenade has been dropped from the Bon Homme’s mainyard down a hatchway of the Serapis, causing a terrible explosion.
In the distance can be seen the British merchant vessels, under the protection of the guns of Scarborough Castle, as also the conflict between the Pallas,—the only other ship of Jones’ squadron actively engaged,—and the Countess of Scarborough, which also ended in the defeat of the British vessel.
For the use of the plate we are indebted to the kindness of Mr. S. V. Henkels, Philadelphia.