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Lot 179
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Rev. War letter written by British Naval Officer aboard the H.M.S. Blonde, with extensive content about capturing American ships
Rev. War letter written by British Naval Officer aboard the H.M.S. Blonde, with extensive content about capturing American ships
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Description:

Revolutionary War

ALS penned by Lieutenant Edward Down of the H.M.S. Blonde to his wife Mary, handwritten in precise and elegant cursive on watermarked cream paper. 3pp bifold letter measures approximately 7.875” x 12.875” and is dated May 17, 1778 from aboard the Blonde in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The letter is a duplicate copy annotated with the date, location, and an internal numbering system. In very to extra fine condition, with expected wear including fold marks, and blank infilled top to third page. Comes with weathered address leaf addressed to “Mrs. Down, Ilfracombe near Barnstaple, Devon”, with various philatelic markings and partial red wax seal. Down addresses his letter to “My dear Life”, as he called Mary, who lived in southwestern England with at least five children, Will, James, Edward, Sally, and Mary. While Down discusses domestic matters, his letters are also extremely informative. He updates his wife about the H.M.S. Blonde and her activities, often giving precise accounts of movements, the capture of enemy vessels, and even the weather. Please see below for letter excerpt with uncorrected spelling and grammar errors:

"Blonde

May 17th 78

… it is the general Complaint in America of the Miscarriage of Letters … on the 5th April retook a Brig from Cork with Provisions, on the 8th took a Brig from Salem in Ballast, on the 21st a Brig from Bilboa for Boston, on the 23d a Sloop Privateer 6 Guns and 30 Men, the same night a brig Privateer of 10 Guns surrenderd to us but a thick fog and blowing weather coming on, she got away, the next day, we drove on Shore in Liverpoole Bay a French frigate call’d Le Duc de Choseil of 24 Guns and 120 Men, loaded with Arms, Cloathing &c for Boston, we were very unfortunate in not being able to get her off, had we carried her into Halifax, my Share would have been full fifteen Hundred Pounds, we got out of her five thousand stand of Arms, as many suits of Cloathing, Twelve Brass, and thirty two Iron Cannon, and many other Articles, she had on board a great quantity of Tea, Silks, Cambricks, &c which the Saltwater damaged so much as to be of no Service to us. They had the presumption to engage us for a short time, but after having eight of their Men Kill’d, and as many wounded, they submitted, thus ends our Cruize, now for all these Prizes, I don’t expect to get more than 250£, had they been carried to any other port suppose it would have been double that Sum”.

“I hope your Sweetmeats are preserv’d. I got out of the french Ship a few Jars, very excellent, and a great Variety which shall send by the first conveyance to Bristol, likewise two pieces of Chintz for Gowns. They were design’d for some American fair one, poor Lady, it will be no small Disappointment”.

“I am much indebted to Governor Arbuthnot for his great Civilities, frequently dine with him, he is soon to be recall’d being appointed an Admiral and I think it not all unlikely that I shall return to England with him, and be again under his command”.

“The Blonde, now Clean, is the first sailing Frigate in America”.

Edward Down served as a lieutenant on the H.M.S. Blonde, a ship confiscated from the French in February 1760 during the Battle of Bishop’s Court during the Seven Years’ War. Following its capture, the Blonde was outfitted as a 32-gun fifth-rate frigate in the British Royal Navy, meaning it was in the next to highest class for a fighting vessel. Typically, frigates of this class were double-deckers, ranged between 700 and 1450 tons, and had about 215-294 crew members including marines. Fifth-rate frigates were often fast and well-armed, and were frequently dispatched on special assignments to interrupt enemy shipping. Although there was considerable risk in serving on a fifth-rate frigate like the Blonde, there was also considerable opportunity, as crew members received shares of the profits depending on their rank.

Down mentions some important individuals in his letters, like “Governor Arbuthnot” or Mariot Arbuthnot (1711-1794) here. This seasoned war veteran served as the naval commissioner at Halifax during the earlier part of the American Revolution, and was appointed commander-in-chief of the North American station only a year after Down’s letter was written.

Nova Scotia was the target of American as well as foreign navies during the Revolutionary War. The Royal Navy maintained a presence at Halifax to doubly protect its settlements and harass its harassers. Down mentions prize money frequently throughout his letters. The Blonde intercepted American and French vessels carrying arms, fabric, tea, foodstuffs, and lumber from Europe, the Caribbean, and the colonies. Confiscated goods were sold at Halifax, where Down often complained they were sold at a depressed value. Lieutenants were second only to the ship captain in how much prize money they collected by size of share. His letters to Mary carefully record his various winnings, as he had a large family to support.

Down’s whereabouts are unknown after the winter of 1779. We might assume, however, that this career naval officer was still aboard the Blonde during the rest of the American Revolution. About three years after this last letter was written, the Blonde was shipwrecked off Nova Scotia’s southeastern tip at Seal Island (now known as Blonde Island). The Blonde’s British crew as well as sixty American prisoners were rescued by Captain Noah Stoddard, an American privateer. The Blonde’s crew were allowed to embark the H.M.S. Observer, a vessel that was shortly engaged in the Battle of Halifax while en route to port. If Edward Down was aboard the Observer at this time, the chances that he was wounded or killed were very small; three British were killed and five wounded in the battle with the American privateer Jack. The odds of survival for other frigates were not very good, as the majority were wrecked, burnt, or captured by war’s end.

Ex William J. Burger Collection

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