Image: The Nancy Packet, by James Gillray ANMM 00036378

Description: The Nancy Packet, by James Gillray Nancy (1774 EIC ship) Text Excerptː Wrecked off Sicilly, in a storm, on the night of the 25th of Febry 1784, by which the whole of the crew, together with several ladies and gentleman passengers on board, then on their return from India, all unhappily perished : a part of the crew, having, with some of the passengers, embarked in the boat, in hopes of reaching the neighbouring island, but not being able to clear the rocks, the whole company, were by an amazing swell of the sea, all buried in one common grave... Dimensions: Overall: 425 × 522 mm, 40 g Mount / Matt size (C Fini mount): 522 × 717 mm Medium: Printing ink on paper Credit Line: ANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds ANMM Collection 00036378. The engraving shows passengers and crew of the wrecked THE NANCY battling waves and rocks in the ship's boat, while others hold onto the floating wreckage. A woman - possibly Ann Cargill - is shown holding her baby as a large wave is about to come crashing down. On 25 February 1784, British East India Company packet ship THE NANCY was carrying mail from Bombay to London with 49 passengers when she hit rocks during a fierce storm west of the Isles of Scilly. As THE NANCY broke up survivors launched the ship's boat - only to be wrecked off Rosvear Island. Of those who died in the shipwreck was the famous 23 year-old British opera singer Ann Cargill (1760 - 1784) and her lover - for whom she left her husband and travelled to India - Captain John Haldane of the British East India Company. When Cargill's body was recovered, she was reported to have been clutching her illegitimate infant child.
Title: The Nancy Packet, by James Gillray ANMM 00036378
Credit: http://collections.anmm.gov.au/objects/12914/the-nancy-packet https://www.sea.museum/2016/10/31/monsters-of-the-deep-tall-tales-of-the-high-seas/
Author: James Gillray
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No