Description:

Edward Pellew
HMS Caledonia, off Toulon, France, April 14, 1812
British Admiral Who Served in American Revolutionary War Writes from Blockade of France
ALS
EDWARD PELLEW, Autograph Letter Signed, to Unknown, April 14, 1812, HMS Caledonia, off Toulon, France. 4 pp., 4.5" x 7.25". Expected folds; light toning; pencil additions, very good.

In this letter, Vice-Admiral Edward Pellew writes of the merits of his 120-gun flagship HMS Caledonia. As Commander-in-Chief–Mediterranean, Pellew was in command off Toulon, France, the principal French Mediterranean naval port, which the Royal Navy had been blockading during the Napoleonic Wars. The navy used Port Mahon, Minorca, as a harbor during its blockade of Toulon.

Complete Transcript
Caledonia off Toulon
14th Apl 1812
My dear Ru?
Caledonia is assuredly the finest ship on the ocean. She has every good Quality and I keeps her sailing. We are now leading 15 sail after being four years stored, & off the ground near five without a steering sail & they [?] all out.
She steers well, stands up well. Weathers every strife is easy in her masts & Rigging and admirable in bad weather, and we have had a gale as bad as bad could be for 48 hours in this cursed Gulph. The day after sailing from Mahon, this is provoking, after trying to fight out the winter in Port to save ourselves, I should have staid until the 11th. The change of April Moon is said at Mahon to establish the character of a good or bad summer and your [?] ships made me figgity & took me out. The only improvement Caledonia could receive would be lowering her upper works. I look upon a foot gained to be a good reef in the Topsails. If these fellows do not show this summer I shall try to send her to you for the Dock which will save her for many years. I hope you will sleep all Quiet at Home and we will do our best here to be kept in your remembrance.
Believe me ever truly yours
Ed Pellew
If you see the Grenfells pray remember me kindly to [Ld?] Nastwell.

Edward Pellew (1757-1833) was born in Dover, England, and ran away to sea at the age of 14. He soon deserted because of unfair treatment to another midshipman and entered the Royal Navy in 1770. He fought with the British Navy in the American Revolutionary War and saved the HMS Carleton in a battle on Lake Champlain in October 1776. He was taken prisoner at Saratoga but was exchanged and returned to England. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1776 and to commander in 1780. Back in European waters, he captured or disabled several French privateers. During the French Revolutionary Wars, his ship captured a French vessel with a code of secret signals, for which King George III knighted Pellew. As commander of the HMS Indefatigable, he captured several French vessels and was created a baronet in 1796. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1804 and appointed commander-in-chief in the East Indies, arriving at his appointment in 1805. He served as commander-in-chief North Sea (1810-1811) and Mediterranean (1811-1814, 1815-1816). In 1816, he led the Anglo-Dutch fleet against the Barbary states, successfully bombarding Algiers and obtaining the release of 1,200 Christian slaves in the city. For that action, he was created 1st Viscount Exmouth, and he returned to England, where he served as commander-in-chief Plymouth from 1817 to 1821.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 4.5" x 7.25"
  • Medium: ALS

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