A pair of Jane Austen and Napoleonic War interest George III silver Egyptian Revival commemorative table candlesticks, each of tapered cylindrical form to a stepped spreading foot, having palm and acanthus leaf borders, the stems having a quatraform square knop engraved with a Pharoah's head to each side, the feet engraved with a lengthy engraved presentation inscription to Captain Francis William Austen of the ship St Albans, from several commanders of the East India Company late under his orders from St Helena to England, dated London November 1808, named captains to include William Ward Farrer, William Hay, Walter Campbell, and Robert Wellbank etc, having engraved coat of arms incorporating those of Austen (chevron and bear paws), Leigh (cross from his mother's family), and Gibson (three storks from his wife's family), with detachable sconces and weighted bases, maker John Roberts & Co, Sheffield 1806, h.34cm

Note: Admiral of the Fleet Sir Francis William Austen was a Royal Navy officer and brother of author Jane Austen. He was a commanding officer during the Napoleonic Wars and helped pursue the French fleet to the West Indies while in command of HMS Canopus; a French ship captured during the Battle of the Nile in 1805. On 13 July 1808, the East India Company gave Austen £420 with which to buy a piece of plate: this was a substantial gift (perhaps the equivalent of a year's salary) in thanks for his having safely convoyed to Britain from St Helena seven of their Indiamen, plus one extra (voyage chartered) ship.

A biographical manuscript written by Francis Austen has been recently purchased and transcribed by the Jane Austen's House museum in Chawton, and page 34 includes the statement: "For his attention to the Convoy, the Board of East India Directors voted him 400 guineas, as they had the beginning of the year 200 guineas on his arrival from the Cape; and the Captains of the 8 ships he conveyed, in a letter expressive of their sense of his gentlemanlike conduct to themselves, as well as his attention to the safety of the convoy, requested his acceptance of a piece of plate, as a testimony of their satisfaction and best wishes they presented him with 2 pairs of handsome Candlesticks of an Egyptian pattern."

Jane and her mother were living with 'Frank' and his wife at lodgings in Southampton during this time, so there is every chance that these candlesticks illuminated the desk where Jane wrote.

The Napoleonic Wars rumbled on in the background to the voyage from St Helena to England, and Austen aboard the St Albans played a small part in the start of the Peninsula War, whereby Napoleon attempted to usurp the Spanish crown and install his brother Joseph Bonaparte as king. On 20th June 1808, there is a log entry stating "Exchanged numbers with the Raven brig. The brig is from off Lisbon. The French have taken possession of Spain. The Spanish Royal Family are prisoners in France. It is not certainly known where the Rochefort squadron is gone, but supposed into the Mediterranean". Later entries in August record witnessing the battle of Vimiera and employing boats to shore to take in wounded soldiers and French prisoners of war. This war, combined with Napoleon's disastrous decision to invade Russia, would prove to be the beginning of the end for the French.

In 1815, St Helena became the exile and final home of Napoleon Bonaparte following his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.

Read more here.

Condition Report

Both excellent with no breaks or repairs.

Would benefit from a polish, otherwise no faults.

Condition reports must be considered as a matter of opinion and not fact.