Description:

Slavery - Barbary Pirates and captured Christian Slaves! Incredible content!

Bifold letter, 8" x 13", on laid paper. Heavily penned in strong contrast on all fours sides. Dated "Malta 8 Nov. 1816", and signed "Sir V Penrose / Rear Admiral & / Commander in Chief". Expected folds, with a small half-inch separation at one fold edge, else near fine.

SIR CHARLES VINICOMBE PENROSE (1759- 1830). Vice-Admiral. Chief in command in the Mediterranean (1814 and 1816). SUPERB CONTENT. Letter signed, to the Marquis of Circello, Secretary of State at Naples. Regarding the Barbary Pirates. "From late events, which have taken place in Tripoli, I have reason to hope that no more Depredations will arise from that Quarter, and I doubt not, from the situation the Bashaw is placed in, that he will have indemnified any Persons both for loss of time, and property, which the consul may prove to be just. One of his Privateers had taken a Gibraltar Zebec on the Coast of Rome, for which insult I have demanded such redress, as will make his cruizers more careful, and I have pointed out the necessity of the Abolition of the private Corsairs directly, & absolutely. The Bashaw declared himself ready to make Peace with all Nations."

Mentions that the Bey of Tunis "appears to make a point of the full execution of the 13th Article of the additional Treaty." Writing of slavery among the Barbary Pirates, Penrose comments: "... the Bey of Tunis, and Bashaw of Tripoli, after the glorious Victory of Algiers, ... have given up every Christian detained in their Dominions, and on the 6 Instant His Majesty's Ship "Ister" sailed for Civita Vecchia to deliver up to His Holiness the Pope, without Ransom, 83 Romans, who were the last Christians detained in all North Africa. I trust my humble exertions to follow up the great work, which my noble Friend, Lord Exmouth, had so powerfully paved the way for will merit His Majesty's approbation." This refers to Admiral Exmouth's bombardment of Algiers in 1816 following the dey's refusal to abolish Christian slavery. Penrose concludes: "Allow me to congratulate Your Excellency on an epoch in which we can, thank God, that neither Christian slave or Prisoner remains in North Africa, and although my Name cannot be wholly unknown to His Holiness the Pope, I trust he will accept cordially the present of his long confined Subjects, which I have sent him by the 'Ister."'

A magnificent letter in highly collectible condition, regarding the abolition of Christian slavery among the Barbary pirates.

Ex-William J. Burger collection.

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