Description:

An earthenware plate printed in blue with a pattern known as Frigate II.  Under a lowering sky, a frigate seems to be shortening her foresail in anticipation of a storm. Frigates were medium-sized war ships with one main deck of guns. They scouted for the fleet, went on commerce-raiding missions and patrols, conveyed messages and dignitaries, and filled in places in the line of battle if there was a shortage of battleships.