THE WOODEN WALLS 1. 2. 3. 26
25 Anonymous. 1. [Untitled Plan Of The Naval Battle Off Minorca On 20th May 1756: Two O’Clock] 'Publish'd according to Act of Parliam.t 1757, for Adm.l Byng's Trial in two Vol.s Octavo.' '1' 2. [Untitled Plan Of The Naval Battle Off Minorca On 20th May 1756: Half Past Two] 'Publish'd according to Act of Parliam.t 1757, for Adm.l Byng's Trial in two Vol.s Octavo.' '2' 3. [Untitled Plan Of The Naval Battle Off Minorca On 20th May 1756: Three O'Clock] 'Publish'd according to Act of Parliam.t 1757, for Adm.l Byng's Trial in two Vol.s Octavo.' '3' 4. [not present] 5. [Untitled Plan Of The Naval Battle Off Minorca On 20th May 1756: Half Past Five] 'Publish'd according to Act of Parliam.t 1757, for Adm.l Byng's Trial in two Vol.s Octavo.' '5' 5. 27 THE WOODEN WALLS [London: John Lacy, 1757]; copperplate engravings, 1. IB/B: 362 x 482 W: 376 x 486 PM: 382 x 494mm; 2. IB/B: 359 x 488 W: 374 x 494 PM: 385 x 513mm; 3. IB/B: 364 x 482 W: 375 x 492 PM: 386 x 514mm; 4. [not present]; 5. IB/B: 366 x 486 W: 378 x 493 PM: 386 x 502mm, in black and white. During the Seven Years War, the French fleet was sent to attack Minorca, which was held by the British. In response, the British Admiralty sent a small fleet, commanded by Admiral John Byng, to help defend the island. However, as Byng himself pointed out, his fleet was too small, the ships in disrepair and short of trained crewmen. When Byng arrived off Minorca, the French had already invaded the island, and only Fort St. Philip, the principal stronghold of the island, was still in British hands. When he encountered a French fleet, on 20th May 1756, although outnumbered, Byng gave battle. The rear division of the English fleet, including Byng’s own ship, were unable to close on the enemy, leaving the main body of the fleet to fight the French. Although outgunned, the British ships held their own, with the battle ending in a draw. However, it was clear to Byng that he could do nothing to help the besieged garrison and he sailed away, Fort St. Philip falling to the French. Back in England, the Admiralty, apparently seeking to divert the blame away from themselves court-martialled Byng. A rigged court found him guilty, and he was executed, for failing to do everything possible to carry out his orders. The Frernch philosopher, Voltaire commented "Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres." (In this country, from time to time it is [considered] good to kill an admiral, in order to encourage the others.) This set of four charts (of five, lacking plate 4) were prepared for Thomas Cook’s 'The Trial of the Honble Admiral [John] Byng, at a Court-Martial held ... for an enquiry into his conduct, while he commanded in the Mediterranean ...', published in 1757, although these examples have never been bound. £400
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