Lot
35 
1839 (Apr. 15) Halifax N.S. to Derbyshire, England, Soldier's folded letter datelined at Halifax endorsed "From James S. Burn Musician 23rd Fusliers" and countersigned, red "Halifax. N.S. Paid" rimless cds and red "1" pence rating, carried by Packet Linnet via Falmouth May 13th, manuscript "2" rating for ship captain's gratuity; some minor soiling, F.-V.F. Estimate $750 - 1,500.
A SCARCE SOLDIER'S LETTER SENT DURING THE AROOSTOCK WAR.
The red "Halifax Paid" cds was used 1817 to 1839. The sender James S. Burn mentions a war 200 miles from Halifax (the Aroostock war between Maine and New Brunswick) and reads in part: "…with Regard to the Regiment being ingaged with the Enemy for Everything is very quiet in the town where we are lying but there some sign of a war about 200 miles from here but they are all quiet for the present it is to England we must look too for Either War or Peace for it all depends on her Decisions but they are making great preparations for them both in the States and here. You must not let that trouble you…". The Aroostook War was a confrontation in 1838-1839 between the United States and the United Kingdom over the international boundary between the British colony of New Brunswick and the U.S. state of Maine. Top-level diplomats from the U.S. and Britain met in Washington and forged a peaceful compromise, the Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842, which fixed the permanent border.
Realized: $850