The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-07-16
The vinceio's Prize.

lThis somewhat curious Incident in the undsr.Cur.
rent Of history, s given the authority Of Mr. 6. u.
Austen, of New Square, Lincoln's Inn, to whom the
facts were communicated by his father, Sir F. W.
Austen, who commanded one Of the ships under the
orders of Sir George COckbnrn on the occasion re.
fsusd 10 in the narative,l
1t is well known that when the French
republican armies were oVerrunning the
north Of Italy, and commencing that whole
sale system of plumber which was after
wards carried out to such perfection by
Napoleon's marshals, the then reigning
Duke of Florence offered the magnificent
collection of pictures which adorned the
Pitt Palace, to the English nation for the
comparatively small sum Of l00,00O--a
sum which, as the late George Robins might
have said, with less than his customary ex-
aggeratiOn, was hardly the price Of the
frames, gentlemen Mr.. Pitt, seems, un-
fortunately, TO have been less sensible OF
the value of the collection than scrupulous
of asking parliament for the money and
the opportunity was lost of redeemIug the
national character, by such a set-of against
the republican dispersion OF the noble col.
lection of Charles J. This circumstance is
well known but it will probably be new
to most of our readers to learn, that many
of the best pictures which had thus failed
to become British property by purchase,
narrowly missed becoming so by conquest; /;
and that, in fact, they were for some hours
in British custody. Such, however, was
the fact, and the following narrative of the
circumstances alluded to may perhaps not
be considered devoid Of interest.
1t was in the latter part of the year 1893,
that a squadron of British men-of-war was
cruising in the Gulf of Genoa. II was
known that the French we're on the point
Of evaeuating Italy, and these ships had
been detached from Lord Keith's feet, to
watch that part of the eoBst, aud TO inter
cept, as far as possible, all communication
between the ports of Italy and France. The
squadron consisted of four vessels ,undor the
orders of the present admiral of Tie fleet, Sir
Geo. Cockburn, then Capt. Cock burn, whose
pendant was flying in the MiRer0e frigate.
Whilst some of the vessels kept pretty close
in, so as to cut off all communications along
shore, others kept lookout more to sea
ward, for any vessels that might attempt
to make straight run across the bay. One
afternoon, four sails were discovered to
seward running towards the coast OF
France. The signal to chase was imme-
diately made, aud each of the British crui-
sers started off in pursuit of one of the
str1ngers. Our concern is with the ViHcgO,
a brig Of eighteen guns, commanded by
Captain Long, which happened, from her
position, to be the most advanced in the
chase. She was standing off,shore on the
larOoard tack, with her head to the south
west, when the chase was discovered some
what to leeward, standing nearly due west,
With the wind on her starboard quarter
The latter was a smart-looking shin of 6OO
or 700 tons, displaying no colors. tbong6
from the course she was steering. and her
evident intention to avoid being oyerbauled
no doubt was entertained that she was an
enemy.
Both vessels sailed well and az the
stranger gradually edged away, the Vincei,
got more and more into her wake. A sterr
chase is proverbially long chase an,
though it was apparent. from the first tha
the British, though much smaller, was tn
faster vessel, it was many hours before sh
was enabled to get within range. Abou
dusk, however, this was effected, and tn