Hello

Yes nice pics. About the confusion "pirates" and "corsaires" I'm not sure for corsair in english. French "Corsaire" would be in english "Privateer"

And I fully agree with the wikipedia

A privateer was a private warship authorised by a national government. At the time, many merchant vessels were armed with cannons, and naval officers and ratings expected to benefit from prize money if they captured an enemy ship. The privateer was distinguished by the legal framework it operated in—authorised to attack enemy shipping and be treated as prisoners of war if captured. If war was not declared, or if the privateer preyed on neutral shipping, the privateer might well be treated as a pirate by the enemy.

A privateer was an early sort of commerce raider, interrupting enemy trade. Privateers were of great benefit to a smaller naval power, or one facing an enemy dependent on trade: they disrupted commerce and hence enemy tax revenue, and forced the enemy to deploy warships to protect merchant trade. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without spending public money or commissioning naval officers.

Especialy in France as the French Navy was so tiny versus the British Royal Navy, privateers was an alternative way of war with a "lettre de course" and it's an insult to say that Jean Bart or Surcouf are pirates

Xtian

Hi Christian,

Glad you like the pics..........

according to my Chambers 20th Century Dictionary......

corsair - a privateer, a privateering ship, a pirate (Fr. corsaire - one who courses or ranges)
so, no confusion there then......!!!!

all the best for 2008

Allan