(Recto) The 'Sans Pareil' in Besika Bay, 3 October 1853 and the French steamer 'Mogador' towing the French 'Valmy' into the Dardanelles, 29 October 1853; (Verso) broadside studies of the French 'Jupiter', 'Jena' and RMG PZ0883-001

(Recto) The 'Sans Pareil' in Besika Bay, 3 October 1853 and the French steamer 'Mogador' towing the French 'Valmy' into the Dardanelles, 29 October 1853; (Verso) broadside studies of the French 'Jupiter', 'Jena' and 'Ville de Paris' drying sails
No. 35 of 36 (PAI0849 - PAI0884).
(Recto) Two separate pencil sketches, divided by a vertical line. That on the left, of a British two-decker, is inscribed, 'Sans Pareil - Besika Bay / Oct 3d 53 Capt Dacres', with 'airy Blue' and 'Yellow' as colour notes in the sky to the left of the ship, which is shown almost in starboard broadside view, drying sails. That on the right is inscribed, 'Valmy & Modagor / Oct 29th 53 / Entering Dardanells' and shows two French ships heading into the Sea of Marmara through the Dardanelles strait, the twin-funnelled paddler 'Modagor' towing the three-decker 'Valmy', which only has a jib set.
(Verso) Four sketches, of which one is a study of sails drying on the mast of an unnamed ship, probably one of the three shown in port broadside view and identified by inscriptions as the French line-of-battle ships 'Jupiter', 'Jena' and 'Ville de Paris'. All are shown at anchor drying sails. The last is seen off an attractive shoreline with cypress trees and a substantial building. This suggests the location is not Besika Bay, from which the Anglo-French fleet weighed anchor to enter the Dardanelles on and after 22 October. It is more likely to be there or in the Sea of Marmara.
This is the last page of Mends's 1850-53 sketchbook, covering his commission as first lieutenant of the 'Trafalgar'. In January 1854 he was promoted commander and went home to become second-in-command of HMS 'James Watt'. He therefore missed the 'Trafalgar's' part in the Crimean War campaign that followed in the Black Sea, though taking part in his new ship in the Baltic theatre of that conflict.

The 'Sans Pareil' in Besika Bay, and the French steamer 'Mogador' towing the French 'Valmy' into the Dardanelles