3-008-692 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Town and port of Acapulco, on the west coast of Mexico, with the English and French squadron lying in the harbour, 1862. Engraving from a sketch by Mr. Boyle of the Termagant. 'Acapulco, one of the principal Mexican ports in the Pacific, is also well known on account of its admirable harbour, which affords...a secure anchorage for the largest vessels. It is one of the stations at which it was considered desirable in the recent state of affairs with Mexico to have a squadron at anchor prepared to use force if necessary in support of the claims of the English, French, and Spanish Governments. Accordingly...ships of war were dispatched from Panama...The ships off Acapulco, in April last, were the Bacchante [in a position commanding the fort], (Rear-Admiral Maitland), Termagant, and Clio... as a measure of precaution, the military authorities dismantled the fort and removed the guns some miles inland...The fort, which apparently is of considerable strength and constructed of stone, was evidently considered by the Mexicans as indefensible against the heavy guns carried by modern ships of war, more especially as the great depth of water would allow a large frigate to deliver her broadside within a few yards of the fortification'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.