Description:

THE EARLY OPIUM TRADE AND BATTLE OF LISSA
A fascinating maritime relic, a ship log from the brig ‘Resolution', which sailed from Salem, Massachusetts on May 28, 1810, 150pp. 8vo., in original marbled boards with leather spine. Each day, the keeper of the log recorded the ship's position, the prevailing conditions and direction of the wind, and any notable weather phenomena, as well as encounters with other vessels, maintenance of the ship, observation of a frigate operation, and any other interesting events. The ‘Resolution' set sail from Salem to Tunis, with the first entry dated June 14, 1810. Arriving there on July 10, she makes for Gibraltar and then to Malta, arriving on August 8, thence on to other ports. The daily entries up to October 10, 1810 contain the information mentioned, then a lengthy personal journal entry is added, in small part: ‘…Smyrna I find to be an unpleasant place, every endeavoring to take all advantages; but it's a country capable of producing many thousands [?] wine, but for want of a government of more energy and ambition…Trade at Constantinople is small…The…place [of] trade in Turkey is Smyrna and the Americans have been trading there for the past ten years…two of the American ships having been at Constantinople under American colours, and the American government having no treaty with the Turks, were received very coolly and many extra charges imposed on them…Nov. 6th 1810 There are many regulations established here by the Levant Company which operate very much against the American merchants, for instance if you should purchase a quantity of Opium they will have it weighed first, but for 98 pounds…they charge you one hundred and so in proportion for every other which must of course fall short of that weight exclusive of their deception, as Opium is extracted from Poppy by slitting the top part of it from which comes a kind of gum which is scraped off every morning…until the Poppy is drained…Tobacco is an article…in great quantity…but not strong…'. The log then continues with daily updates until July 5, 1811. On the final page of the logbook is a one-page, undated notation regarding the Battle of Lissa, which commenced on March 13, 1811. In part: ‘Brig Restitution [?] April 2 Passes taken after the hard fought battle in the Adriatic…Ship Levant sailed on the 4th of April for Canton. Schn Triomphe arriv'd on or about the 8th captured near Marseille being a blockaded Port, no doubt will be condemned. [Apr.] 10th a French…Ship arriv'd [near] the Ajax 74...arrived the [Apr.] 18th several American vessels. Ship Manchester of New York Ogden…Brig Harrod of Salem. Schooner Caleb Cook, Schn Robert Elliot of Marblehead. Previous to our arrival the Ship Fortitude [?] of New York…'. The relatively obscure Battle of Lissa was a naval action between a British frigate squadron and a much larger squadron of French and Italian frigates and smaller vessels during the Adriatic Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars. The object was the possession of the strategically-important Island of Vis (Lissa) and, with the British sinking the French flagship as well as two other vessels, Britain claimed the island. Notable among the ships mentioned by the writer are: HMS Levant, which was captured by the USS Constitution in the War of 1812; and the USS Manchester - actually from Falmouth, MA - which would also be captured in the War of 1812 by the HMS Nimrod. Overall very good condition, and certainly worthy of further research.

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June 16, 2023 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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