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Sale 88: The Sescal Sale

Table of Contents

Foreign Mails - 1773 to 1852

Lot 557    

1797, 1803 L'Orient, France to Newport R.I. via Salem and New York, two folded letters from Benjamin Peirce, 1797 entered mails with red "Salem, Feb 11" two-line postmark and manuscript. "Sh 14" rating, 1803 with black "New York" clamshell postmark with red manuscript "Sh 19" rating and additional "Fordd. from Pro", some interesting 1797 content in the aftermath of the XYZ affairs souring US-French relations "…I wrote you 21st September advising you of the William & cargo at the commercial tribunal (commercial court) in France & of the appeal of the captors to the civil tribunal at Vannes, but have found means to keep it off, tho expensive, until the commissioners were received, which gives me some distant hop of an acquittal", He writes that he has enclosed a certificate of the landing of the cargo, which could not be done before. He writes about the cargo loaded onto the William, including sugar. He writes about sending copies of the commercial tribunal to Congress, and also to the Vice Consul for the French Republic "I do not believe all ships under the American flag are American property", excellent references to the ongoing problems regarding seizure of American ships leading up to the War of 1812, Very Fine pair of covers.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Benjamin Peirce (1778-1831) was a Harvard historian and librarian born in Salem Mass. He received an AB from Harvard in 1801 and following graduation joined his farther's shipping business and served in the Mass. State Senate. In 1826, he was appointed Librarian of Harvard, and compiled a catalog of the library published in 1830.

Realized: $140

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