418. A d m ir a l B o s c a w e n ; L o u is b u r g t a k e n . 26 July, 1758.
Bust of Admiral Boscawen, r., &c. ; similar to No. 411.
Leg. TO BRAVE ADML . BOSCAWEN.
Rev. A French officer, kneeling, delivers his Sword and the
key of the citadel to Admiral Boscawen. Leg. i s u r r e n d e r
p r i s o n e r . Ex. 1758.
1.M
B. brass.
The French officer who commanded the defence of Louisburg
was the Chevalier de Drucour.
414. A c t io n at S t . C a s t . 11 Sept. 1758.
Bust of Louis XV., r., laureate, hair long, in armour, and
mantle fastened with brooch on the shoulder. Leg. l u d o v ic o
xv. o p t im o p r in c i p i . c o m it ia a rMo r ic a . (The Commune of
Brittany to Louis XV., the best of Princes.) On truncation,
r . FTL. (Joseph Charles Roettier, the Son.)
Rev. The Genius of Brittany, on one side, with a sword in
her hand and her shield at her feet, is suspending to a palm-
tree a shield inscribed, v ir t u s d u c is e t m i l i t . (The valour of
the General and of the soldiers.) Mars, on the other side, armed
with a fulmen, attaches to the tree another shield inscribed,
v ir t u s n o b il . e t p o p . a r m . (The valour of the nobility and
of the people of Brittany.) Leg. a n g l is a b a g u il l o n io d u c e
p r o f l ig a t i s . (The English defeated by the Due d’Aiguillon.)
Ex. a d s a n c t u m c a t u o d u m m .d c c .l v h i . (At St. Cast, 1758.)
r . f i l . (Joseph Charles Roettier, the Son.)
2 ‘5. Tresor, Med. Franc., Pt. III. PI. xlix.
MB. M. Very rare.
This medal was struck by the Commune of Brittany in
honour of Louis XV.
An expedition under the command of General Bligh and
Commodore Howe was sent against Cherbourg, 1 Aug., 1758,
and was successful, the harbour, basin, and forts being destroyed,
twenty-seven ships burnt, twenty-two pieces of brass
cannon taken, and a contribution of £3,000 levied. The force
then proceeded to St. Cast, and the troops were set ashore near
St. Malo. Here it was found that the Due d’Aiguillon, with
15,000 troops, partly regulars, partly militia, was advancing
against them. It was, therefore, deemed expedient to re-em-
bark, but the rear-guard of 1,500 men, under General Dury,
still remained when the French army approached, and at once
commenced a regular and well-concerted attack. General Dury
was dangerously wounded, and, in an attempt to swim towards
his ship, was drowned, and the English loss in killed and
prisoners was nearly 1,000 men. The French loss was even
more severe.
415. G o r e e t a k e n . 29 Dec. 1758.
Bust of Britannia, I., head bound with fillet, hair twisted
into a knot behind, no drapery; behind, a trident projecting
from the neck. Leg. o . f a ir . Br it a n n ia . h a i l . Same as
No. 405.
Rev. Victory, bearing a laurel wreath and a palm branch,
walking, r . , on the prow of a vessel. Leg. g o r e e . t a k e n .
MDCCLVIII.
1'55. Joachim, II. PI. xxxx. 1.
MB. JR . M . Not uncommon.
The type of the reverse is but slightly varied from No. 405.
This medal was executed by Thomas Pingo under the auspices
of Mr. Thomas Hollis, and it gained the prize offered by the
'Society for Promoting Arts and Commerce for the best medal on
this victory. Mr. Hollis presented one to Mr. Pitt, inscribed,
w il l ia m p i t t a d m in i s t r in g . ; another to Admiral Keppel, inscribed,
a v g v s t v s k e p p e l c o m m a n d in g ; and another to Dr.
Akenside, from whose “ Ode on leaving Holland ” he had
adopted the legend on the obverse. The Island of Goree (Cape
Verd), originally a Dutch plantation, had fallen into the hands
of the French in 1677. An expedition entrusted to Admiral
Keppel attacked the French garrison on the 29th Dec., and after
a short resistance the place surrendered.