Lot
595 
(Naval) 1782 (Oct. 23) U.S.S. Alliance, L'Orient, France to Nantes, France, autographed folded letter written by Capt. John Barry to Samuel White while commanding the Frigate Alliance, entered mails with "L'Orient" straightline and manuscript "6" rating, letter reads "I had the pleasure yesterday of receiving your agreeable letter. I thank you very kindly for your offer be assured if I come your way shall accept of it. I am much obliged to you for the satisfaction you express at my success… I sail in a few days on a cruise & perhaps not go to America till spring as I have no hay to make - shall stay out a little longer than you did last cruise", Very Fine. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
ONE OF THE EARLIEST NAVAL LETTERS RECORDED, WRITTEN BY CAPTAIN BARRY WHILE COMMANDING THE FRIGATE ALLIANCE.
The Frigate "Alliance" had left New London Conn. on Aug. 4th 1782 and would leave L'Orient on Dec. 8th 1782. On March 10th 1783, the "Alliance" successfully fought the British Frigate "Sybil", which was the last naval action of the Revolutionary War.
John Barry (1745-1803) was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and later in the United States Navy. He is widely credited as "The Father of the American Navy" (and shares that moniker with John Paul Jones) and was appointed a Captain in the Continental Navy on December 7, 1775. He was the first Captain placed in command of a US warship commissioned for service under the Continental flag. After the war, he became America's first commissioned naval officer, at the rank of Commodore, receiving his commission from President George Washington in 1797.
Realized: $6,750
Lot
596
(Naval) 1800 (Nov. 26) Benjamin Stoddert, Secretary of Navy, May 1798 - March 1801, free frank "Navy Dept., Ben Stoddert" on 1800 folded letter to Israel Wheelen at Philadelphia Pa., "Wash. City Nov 26" cds with matching "Free" rating handstamp, Very Fine and scarce free frank. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $700
Lot
597
(Naval) [Barbary War] 1804 (Aug. 9) U.S.S. Siren Off Tripoli To Philadelphia Pa., datelined "Siren off Tripoli Augt. 9th 1804" folded letter, entered mails with Philadelphia reddish circled "6" ship rating handstamp, docketed "Rec'd 1st Dec. 1804", letter from Lt. Charles Stewart announces the death of Lt. James Caldwell, some wear, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter reads, "How painful is the task to announce to you the death of your Brother James - he was put in command of the Gunboat No. 9 on the 7th Inst. - proceeded to attack the enemies batteries, where his boat was blown up soon after the action commenced - tis supposed by a red-hot ball fired from the enemy. In the performance of a generous & humane act he met his fate… Your Brother is universally lamented by the Squadron, for who-ever knew him, loved and esteemed him." Lt. Charles Stewart, later famous in command of the USS Constitution in the War of 1812, was then in commanded of the U.S. Brig Siren, 240 tons with 16 guns.
Realized: $900
Lot
598
(Naval) War of 1812 Ransom for Sloop Taken by Privateer Benjamin Franklin, folded letter datelined "New York 11th Novr. 1813" and addressed to Benjamin Ayman at New Haven, Ct., no postal markings, letter reads "your favr of the 9th inst. I received and undertake to make a farther explanation. The bill attended to, was one given by John Weatherheadm Commisary Genl. of St. Johns Antigua to Captn. Josiah Ingarsol for the Ransom of a sloop taken by Privateer Benjamin Franklin, which I understand Mr. Steward promised to have Collected and I thought through you a Remittance might have been made to Mr. Samuel Adams of this place, agent for said privateer, therefore should you not have any knowledge of the circumstance…"; file folds, Very Fine and interesting. Estimate $500 - 750.
Lot
599
(Naval) 1815 (Sep. 4) U.S.S. John Adams, Norfolk Va. to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter with "Norfolk Sep. 4" cds and ms. "90" triple the 30¢ war rate for 301-500 miles, letter concludes by stating "We are off to the Meditteranean tomorrow", F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
The USS "John Adams" was a light frigate built in 1799 at Charleston S.C. She was a 28 gun rated vessel, and performed well during the Quasi-War with France. The voyage of 1815 referred to in the letter was against the Barbary pirates, the John Adams returning in early 1816. After making several cruises against Caribbean pirates, the "John Adams" was broken up in 1829, being replaced by a sloop of war of the same name.
Realized: $250
Lot
600
(Naval) 1826 (Sep. 10) Pensacola, Fla. Terr. to Warren Pa., folded letter datelined "U.S. Frigate Constellation, off Pensacola Sept 10, 1826", entered mails with red manuscript "Pensacola, 8th September" postmark and matching "25" rating, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
The USS "Constellation" was a 38-gun frigate constructed in 1797, one of the "Six Original Frigates" authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. She was distinguished as the first U.S. Navy vessel to put to sea and the first U.S. Navy vessel to engage and defeat an enemy vessel. In the letter by Surgeon Charles Wayne and mentions "we have been laying in the harbur of Pensacola - …nearly 4 months…" as the bar does not allow the "Constellation" drawing 20' 6".
Realized: $325
Lot
601
(Naval) 1827 (May 19) U.S. Naval Hospital, Pensacola, Flor. to Paoli, Pa., folded letter with "U.S. Naval Hospital, Bananca, May 18, 1827" dateline and manuscript "Pensacola, May 19th" postmark and matching "25" cent rating, a Very Fine territorial use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
602
(Naval) 1831 (Jul. 15) U.S.S. Bradywine at Toulon, France to Hartford, Conn., datelined folded letter with "Toulon" postmark and manuscript "22" decimes rating on reverse, disinfection slit, red "New-York 'Ship' Sep 19" cds and red ms. "12½" rating, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $300
Lot
603
(Naval) 1833 (May 2) U.S.S. Falmouth, Paita, Peru to Philadelphia Pa. via Washington D.C., folded letter with "U.S.S. Falmouth, Paita" dateline from the Rushenberges correspondence, flap with manuscript "Paita May 4 1833, Forwd. by Garcia & Girdra" and additional "Rec'd at the Navy Dept. 15th Sept.", entered mails with "Navy Department" endorsement and "Levi Woodbury" Secretary of the Navy free frank, red "Washington City Sep 15" cds and matching "Free" rating handstamp; backflap stain, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $450
Lot
604
(Naval) 1836 (Jun. 22) U.S.S. Peacock, Macao, China to Philadelphia Pa., folded letter datelined "Macao, June 22, 1836" and endorsed "U.S.S. Peacock", carried by private ship to New York, entered mails with red "New-York 'Ship' Nov 14" cds and "27" rating for 25¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee; stain at top left, F.-V.F. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Letter with some historical content, "The papers will show that we buried here the Diplomatist Mr. Roberts & Capt. Campbell - we have lost no men - Mr. Roberts had been ill for 3 years & Capt. Campbell was intemperate & imprudent or he would have recovered. We sail to-morrow for the Sandwich Islands and you may expect us at home in April next. I have been in Canton 6 days and made there a number of purchases…"
Edmund Roberts, appointed by President Andrew Jackson as America's first envoy to the Far East, went in the U. S. sloop-of-war "Peacock" on two consecutive non-resident embassies to the Eastern courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat during the years 1832-36. Roberts concluded treaties with Siam and the Sultan of Muscat in Oman, ratified in Washington, D.C. 30 June 1834. He returned in 1836 to exchange ratifications with Oman and Siam; and to Cochin-China for a second attempt at negotiation. On the second mission, Naval Surgeon William Ruschenberger (1807-1895) was commissioned on the U. S. Ship "Peacock", commanded by Lt. C. K. Stribling, and accompanied by the U. S. Schooner "Enterprise" with Lt. Commanding A. S. Campbell; both were under the command of Commodore Edmund P. Kennedy.
Realized: $900