Description:

(WAR OF 1812)
CONTRACTING A PRIVATEER FOR THE SCHOONER CALYPSO An interesting manuscript D.S., 2pp. legal folio, [London], Dec. 1, 1814, being a ‘Letter of Instruction' directed to captain Thomas West in Philadelphia, who is to ferry the captured French schooner CALYPSO to the Port of Morlaix in France. It adds: ‘Although your vessel is armed and has a Letter of Marque, yet your Voyage being purely mercantile, you are to abstain from all manner of cruising with a view of capturing Vessels of the Enemy…you are therefore to enter no Port without a Cause that will justify you to the Underwriters, and respecting which you will make due Protest…'. For his services West is paid $500.00. Signed by a number of individuals at bottom, who no doubt have an interest in the vessel. The HMS CALYPSO was a schooner class ‘speronara' vessel bearing one 12-pounder and crewed by 50 men. She was captured with six other French vessels in 1813 by the HMS BACCHANTE and HMS WEAZLE while sailing from Corfu to Otranto, and her boarding resulted in no casualties. Three weeks after this document, the Treaty of Ghent would be signed.

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December 5, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000