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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 47

First Opium War
The Eastern Expedition
The First Capture of Chusan
1840 (9 July) cover and part letter from Russell & Sturgis in Manila to Frederick Huth in London, with "1/-" rate mark crossed through and replaced by "2/-" and marked "Via Falmouth", with "INDIA" in oval and, on the flap, Bombay forwarding agent's cachet and London arrival c.d.s. (13.3); there are two vertical folding creases and some light, even ageing.


The letter gives details of the upcoming events in China, "We yesterday had letters from China to 23 June. The squadron was there and Sir J.J. Gordon Bremer had announced a blockade, and the remainder of the squadron would go to Chusan about 30 N. to await there the Admiral from England with other ships. All vessels would be permitted to come out of the River and consequently, all the foreigners at Canton and the property in their charge were considered safe - in fact, the number of vessels remaining there was very small. The general impression at Canton was that the British Government was desirous to negotiate before commencing hostilities, and that consequently it would be very long before there could be any settlement pending. ..."


1840年7月9日馬尼拉Russell & Sturgis 寄倫敦Frederick Huth 信函, 遞送費初為 "1/-" 後改為"2/-", 並注 " Via Falmouth" , 蓋㰐圓型 "INDIA" 戳記, 封舌上有孟買中轉及3月13日倫敦到達戳. 有摺痕及少許老化. 這封信詳細介紹了中國即將發生的事件: “ 我們昨天收到了來自中國的信函, 直到 6 月 23 日. 中隊在那裡, JJ Gordon Bremer 爵士宣布了封鎖, ....中隊的其餘成員將前往舟山約北緯30 度. 在那裡等待來自英國的海軍上將和其他船隻..., 所有船隻都將被允許從河中出來, 因此廣州的所有外國人及其管理的財產都被認為是安全的..."

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