Italian and or French naval brig Friedland captured by British Standard and Active 26 March 1808

A letter dated 26 March 1808, written by T. Harvey, commanding officer of the Standard off the South end of Corfu gives the following information. "I have the pleasure to acquaint you of the capture of the Friedland Italian brig of war, commanded by Captain Angelo Thomasi, this evening, by the Standard and Active, after several hours' chase, close in with Cape Blanco, which she would soon have rounded, had not her topmasts fortunately gone ever the side, which enabled Captain Moubray to take possession of her; and I have given him directions to proceed to Malta with her and the prisoners.  The Friedland is twelve months old, carries sixteen French twelve-pounder long guns, built at Venice, and is a very fine brig. Embarked on board her is Commodore Don Amilcar Paolucci, commanding in chief the Italian marine, and knight of the Iron Crown. I remain, &C.

Vichot (1967) mentioned a lugger le Friedland, the former l'Illyrie or l'Illyrien, built in 1807 and captured by the British in 1808 and taken into British naval service as de HMS Delight and finally sold 1814. He didn't mention anything about Venice or Italy.

Colledge (1969) mentioned the French Friedland, which became the 18-gun sloop Delight in British service, with a builders measurement of 340e tons, captured by the Standard off Cape Blanco 26 March 1808 and which was sold 1 September 1814. Also College mentioned nothing dealing with Italy/Venice.

The Active mentioned in the letter of T. Harvey is probably the 38-guns 5th rate, launched at Chatham dockyard 14 December 1799, in 1833 renamed Argo. The Standard mentioned in the letter of T. Harvey is probably the 64-guns 3rd rate Standard, launched at Deptford dockyard 8 October 1782.

Rif Winfield (2008) wrote that she was of one the ships designed by Jean Tupinier in 1806, the so-called L'Illyrien class, built for Napoleon's Italian Navy (the Franco-Italian Navy) by Andrea Salvini at Venice. She was captured as Le Friedland, being the former Le Vendicare and l'Illyrien, built between November 1806-February 1808 at Venice, while launched June 1807, dimensions 97'6" gundeck)/76'1" length of keel for tonnage) x 29'0" x 19'0", and a builders measurement of 340 33/94 tons.

Sources

The Naval Chronicle vol. XIX January-June 1808, p. 504.

J.J. Colledge. Ships of the Royal Navy. An historical index, Newton Abbot, 1969, p. 158.

J. Vichot. Répertoire des navires de guerre français. 1967, p.60.

Rif Winfield. British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793-1817. Design, Construction, careers and Fates. 2008, p. 319.