A Derby green ground and gilt French Revolutionary Wars Naval action cabaret service, painted by George Robertson, circa 1800, each piece with a naval scene from the engagement between the French frigate La Loire and the brig-sloop H.M.S. Kangaroo on 18th October 1798,prising: a shaped oval two-handled tray, 40cm in length; a sugar box and cover; an oval section teapot and cover; and two cans and saucers, blue scripts factory marks and titled scenesProvenance: A private English collection and by descent.See John Twitchett, Derby Porcelain, (1980), p. 216, pl. 267 for a remarkably similar if not the identical service.Note: H.M.S. Kangaroo was an 18-gun Diligence Class brig-sloop launch in 1795 and sold out the service in 1802. This set portrays an action she was involved in following the battle of Tory Island on 12th October 1798 where a Royal Naval squadron under Sir John Borlase Warren (1753-1822) defeated a French fleet sent with reinforcements for the French army which had landed in Mayo in support of the rebellion by the United Irishmen. This French fleet had sailed before the news reached France that the rebellion had been successfully crhed and the French army defeated. As the French fleet scattered after the battle, Kangaroo inpany with the frigate H.M.S. Mermaid chased the French frigate La Loire of 44 guns. Having lost the Frenchman that day they caught up the following day and after giving battle, Loire was able to give them the slip. On the 18th October her luck ran out when she again ran into Kangaroo, this time inpany with the razee frigate H.M.S. Anson. She was brought to action and forced to strike her colours when she ran out of ammunition and later passed into the Royal Navy as H.M.S. Loire.