Lot 38: NICHOLAS CONDY (BRITISH, 1799-1857) ‘The Falcon, the Earl of Yarborough’s

NICHOLAS CONDY (BRITISH, 1799-1857) ‘The Falcon, the Earl of Yarborough’s yacht’ signed and inscribed ‘N.Condy Jun’ (lower right), inscribed with title and further inscribed ‘N.Condy Jun Pinx’/Devonshire Terrace/ Plymouth’ (on board verso) oil on board 20 x 25.5cm (7 7/8 x 10 1/16in). Launched in June 1824, the widely celebrated Falcon was built for Lord Yarborough in List’s yard at Wootton Bridge, Fishbourne, Isle of Wight, at a cost of P18,000. Though designed as a purely private yacht, her full-rig and general appearance prompted one spectator to remark that she more resembled a P20-gun ship-of-warP, and she undoubtedly proved a highly impressive flagship to the Royal Yacht Squadron, a role she occupied for over ten years. It is notable that one of the main objectives of the R.Y.S.’s pioneers-and of far greater importance than the annual regatta at Cowes-was to improve the form and sailing qualities of British warships and, to that end, Falcon was the most successful of several experimental craft of her time. Yarborough, the R.Y.S’s first commodore, was a particularly colourful character in the early history of yachting and employed fiftyfour PchoiceP hands under the command of a naval officer to crew Falcon whenever she raced. A serious accident at sea followed by illness prompted Lord Yarborough to dispose of Falcon and in 1836 she was sold to Captain Clifton, on whose behalf Baring Brothers had financed the purchase for P5,500. Fitted with 48hp. paddle propulsion, she sailed for India in January 1838, but had the engine removed upon her arrival at Calcutta when she was resold to Jardine, Matheson & Co. Her new owners put her straight onto the opium run to Macao where her speed enabled her to continue trading throughout the so-called ‘Opium War’ of 1840-42. This acknowledged speed merely added to her lustre as flagship of the Jardine fleet and once the War was over, her main port of discharge became Hong Kong following the island’s acquisition by British troops in 1841. Remaining a frequent sight all along the opium route until the mid-1850’s, the end of her career remains shrouded in mystery. Said by some to have been taken by mutineers and by others to have been scuttled by pirates, there is circumstantial evidence that she was wrecked off Breaker Point, a projecting headland 60 miles South of Swatow, although this has never been proven. Whatever the truth however, she was without doubt one of the most interesting ships involved in the China trade in the first half of the nineteenth century. A somewhat similar composition by N.M.Condy, signed and dated 1844, and showing Falcon off the coast of China in company with other opium carriers is known in commerce.