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Auction: 18038 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 3050

Autographs
Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 1797
1797 (c.) a manuscript notebook of fifty eight roughly stab-stitched bound written pages within a torn paper wrapper, the writing is quite large and easy to read. The book belonged to an anonymous investigator who recorded conditions aboard ships involved in the Battle of Cape Vincent, namely H.M.S's Egmont, Namur, Cullodon, Britannia, Victory, plus one unidentified ship.

These notes relate to each of these ships and are not all damning, includes such comments as, Neither bedding or sheets for the sick; Boatswain pretty well off in point of stores except three inch rope; Lt. & Master attends the Cutting up of fresh beef & no choice pieces allowed or preference to officers thick water gruel every day for breakfast; 48 sick mostly ulcers - no scurvy - no lime juice or portable soup. The section of H.M.S. Victory is as details as the other ships and includes, "... Gunner very short of stores ... Boatswain very short of stores of all sorts except sails, anchors & cables ... Carpenter Hull weak & very leaky, tolerably light when at anchor, at sea when it blows fresh make a foot an hour ...". A fascinating insight into the plight of naval ships stores and crew post a naval battle. Photo


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Sold for
£1,400