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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 49

First Opium War
The Eastern Expedition
The First Capture of Chusan
1840 (2 Nov.) Wetmore entire letter from Macao to "Messrs Morrison Cryder & Co in liquidation", London, carried on the "Louisa Baille", rated "8" and the flap with a fine strike of the boxed "india letter/kingsbridge" (rare in red).


The letter describes the state of affairs in the aftermath of capturing the Island of Chusan and threats to Ningpo, "... the latest account from Chusan 24th ultimo state that the Admiral with the principal part of the fleet would sail about the 7th to 10th inst for this station, that a more general possession of the island of Chusan would be taken, by the establishment of an additional number of military posts at different points and that supplies of fresh provisions were coming in much more freely than before. The Chinese still refuse to release Captain Anstruther and their other prisoners, the Company of the Transport Nile, all of whom remained at Ningpo, but as they were well treated, the contemplated attack upon that place would not be made for the negotiations to be held at Canton this month, Keshen is expected to arrive there about the 10th inst, and in the meantime, the Emperor has deprived the late Viceroy Lin of all rank and ordered him to await the arrival of the Keshen. Tang, the predecessor of Lin, has also been directed to repair to Canton to attend the negotiations and afford such information as he may be required to furnish respecting his own proceedings, whilst Viceroy of these provinces and otherwise ... HM Ships 'Calliope' 28, Captain Herbert, and 'Samarang' 28 Captain Scott, have arrived from Valparaiso, the former on the 11th and the latter on the 22nd ulto. The 'Orestes' is expected from the same quarter and the 'Herald' from Singapore". A fascinating historical letter

provenance:
Norman Bennett, September 2004


1840年11月2日澳門Wetmore 寄倫敦Messrs Morrison Cryder & Co. 信函. 由"Louisa Baille" 携送. 遞送費8d, 封舌蓋長框型 "INDIA LETTER/KINGSBRIDGE" 戳記 (少見為紅色). 這封信描述了奪取舟山島後的事態和對寧波的威脅, “...最新報導稱, 海軍上將率領艦隊的主要部分將航行於7 日至 10 日, 該駐地將通過在不同地點建立更多軍事哨所來獲得對舟山島的更廣泛佔領..., 中國人仍然拒絕釋放 Anstruther 船長和他們的其他囚犯...與此同時, 清廷皇帝已經取消了林則徐前總督的所有軍銜，並命令他等待克深(Keshen's) 的到來..." 一件極具第一次鴉片歷史意義的重要信函.

Sold for
HK$10,000

Starting price
HK$7500