Amitie

The Amitie was a French frigate operating during the Napoleonic Wars.

Service to France
The Amitie, under the command of an unknown French captain, was tasked with the transport of a Celestial dragon egg from China to France, a gift from the Imperial Throne to Napoleon. During its voyage it had a string of bad luck, including storms, leaking water tanks and fever among the crew.

It was due to the voyage, and the eggs proximity to French sailors, that Temeraire was later able to speak fluent French.

Capture by the British
Many months into the Amitie's voyage, in early 1805, the ship came into conflict with the HMS Reliant, a short lived battle that resulted in British victory, saw the ships crew taken prisoner and handed over to the command of Lieutenant Gibbs and the taking of the Celestial egg. Captain William Laurence noted, with disapproval, how hard the weary crew had fought and came to the conclusion that, due to certain marks on the ships water casks, that it had port in port at Rio, though this couldn't be confirmed as the ship's logs were thrown overboard during the battle.

Lieutenant Gibbs took over command of the Amitie and brought it into port at Madeira, after which he was confirmed at its captain by Admiral Croft.

The capture of the Amitie as a prize of war earned the crew of the Reliant a substantial bounty. Laurence's own, two-eights share came to 14,000 pounds, though this also included the bounty for Temeraire's egg.