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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 165

The Second Opium War
The First Battle of Taku Forts
United States Military Mail
1858 (19 May) letter and envelope from C.H. Williamson on the U.S.S. 'Powhatan' at Hong Kong to Baltimore, "Overland Mail via Marseilles & England" with manuscript "34" and handstruck U.S. "39" in black ink, the reverse with Hong Kong type 8 c.d.s. (20.5), London (18.7) and Boston Br Pkt (28.7) c.d.s.; a little soiled and small repair at foot.


The long letter to his brother illustrates how the United States participated in this war as the allied forces prepared for their strike on Peiho during the first Battle of Taku Forts. "... on the 13th Commodore Tattnall transferred his broad pennant to this ship ... We go from here to the Gulf of Pecheli at the mouth of the Pi-ho River to join Mr Read who is there with the Minnesota and Mississippi and in the company with the English, French, and Russian commissioners who are pushing towards the city of Pekin which is most accessible from that point, with the hopes of soon bringing the Chinese to negotiations upon the terms of treaties with the all. The French and English still hold quiet possession of Canton, although great portion of their forces have been sent north with their commissioners, and if they do not soon succeed in bringing the poor Chinese to terms, they expect to have some fighting to do. Our stay at the Gulf of Pecheli will depend on Mr Read; if he does not require or presence we will go to Shanghai and fill up with coal and then make a summer cruise to Japan, and do not expect to be back here until next fall...". A scarce and detailed letter, particularly scarce from a U.S. ship


1858年5月19日美國泊駐香港軍艦"U.S.S. Powhatan" 號上CH. Williamson 寄美國巴爾的摩 (Baltimore), 封上註有"Overland Mail via Marseilles & England", 另手寫"34" 及蓋U.S. "39" 印記. 封背蓋5月20日香港8型日戳, 7月8日倫敦及7月28日波士頓日戳; 封下邊有修補. 本函主要講述美艦 "Powhatan" 準備出航, 計劃在白河口會合美駐華大使Mr. Read 及其他兩艘美軍軍艦的情况.

Sold for
HK$15,000

Starting price
HK$15000