A William IV presentation Naval silver snuff box

A William IV presentation Naval silver snuff box,
by Nathaniel Mills, Birmingham 1835,
rectangular form, reeded sides and base, the hinged cover with engine-turned decoration and engraved with a steam frigate with a shield cartouche, the interior of the cover inscribed 'Presented to George Evans Esq., Commander of H.M Steam Frigate Rhadamanthus in token of Friendship and regard by her constructor Thomas Roberts, April 21 1835', length 9cm, approx. weight 4.4oz.

Built at HM Dockyard, Devonport, HMS Rhadamamthus measured 164 feet in length by 32 feet in the beam and a tonnage of 813 gross. It was powered by two side-lever reciprocating steam engines driving paddle wheels 20 feet in diameter, which produced a top speed of 10 knots.
It was one of five ships ordered for the Royal Navy and was amongst the earliest steam warships in the world. HMS Rhadamamthus saw no action, but achieved the distinction by being the first British warship to cross the Atlantic assisted by steam in 1833. In 1847, she was converted to a transport ship and later, in 1862, converted to a store ship before finally being broken up in 1864. Ref: The Royal Museums Greenwich www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-66702.