A View of the Pierced Island, a Remarkable Rock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, two leagues Southward of Gaspee Bay...
London: Thos. Jeffreys, 1778. Copper engraving from Middleton's Complete System of Geography of ships at sea with the island in the distance, which has two arches piercing it at the base, with tiny ships visible inside the double openings. This is the earliest known image of Pierced Island in the St. Lawrence River, sketched in 1760 while James Cook was there serving on the H.M.S. Pembroke. It includes the H.M.S. Vanguard, a ship of the Line, under the command of Captain Robert Swanton. Hervey Smyth was an aide de camp to General James Wolfe. The Canadian landscapes were engraved by Hervey Smyth, an aide-de-camp to General James Wolfe. His views were also included in a collection published by John Bowles, which are known collectively as Scenographia Americana (1768). Smyth's drawings were drawn on the spot and juxtaposed the British forces against dramatic Canadian landscapes. Middleton's view would have been the first accessible to the wider public. 29 x 19 cm, very good condition. Item #14413
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