383

Lot 383: War of 1812 Letter, Paris

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:800.00 - 1,600.00 USD
Lot  383: War of 1812 Letter, Paris
<b>War of 1812</b><hr><b>An 'American In Paris' Outfits His Ship For War in 1812</b>

<b>War of 1812 Letter Between Two Americans In Paris.</b>
A 2+ page letter date-lined Cherbourg, September 25, 1812, from John White to T.M. Jones, 9.5' x 7.5,' Choice Very Fine. White describes how he intends to outfit his ship as an armed vessel (probably as a privateer) and he invites Jones to accompany him. In part: '...it now amounts to a certainty that the prospects of a speedy reconciliation between the U.S. & E. have entirely vanished....yesterday, in consequence of long & mature deliberation...began to take off the upper deck of my ship for the purpose of putting 16 12 pound cannonades upon her. I shall rig her into a Brig & have as many men short of sixty as I can procure. She will then no doubt sail extremely fast & I think I shall stand as good or better chance to get home than any vessel in France...with my additional crew & water & provisions I shall have no room to spare. But should you conclude to go with me, it shall go hard, but I will find room for all your personal baggage &c....have been obliged to circumscribe our own accomodations very much for the purpose of introducing 4 ugly looking black gentlemen as fellow passengers into the cabin. DonÕt be alarmed, they will not inconvenience us unless provoked...then they are apt to discourse rather loudly...I shall have them Ôfast bound with cordsÕ to the sides of the vessel. If my friend is willing to stow close, sleep in a cot & put up with the inconveniences of an armed ship, I still shall feel the same pleasure in his company that I assured him of in Paris...myself, Captain Holman, Mr. Rogers & my two superior officers & the surgeon will be in the cabin....' Seal tear on address leaf affects nothing; black '48/CHERBOURG' stamp and red circular 'Septembre 28 1812.' Excellent content.