Inter-Island mail / Jamaica postal history/ Military Naval i...

Hammer

£900

Inter-Island mail / Jamaica postal history/ Military Naval interest / slavery / emancipation / plantations. A group of twelve entire letters, all from Captain Robert Gordon, written while commander of HMS Pearl, Jamaica Station, sent while on a voyage to the West Indies, to his mother in Torbay, England, dated between 1832 and 1834, (12 letters total), assorted postmarks and handstamps.

Comprising:
1: Torbay 11th March 1832. to M F Gordon Esqr or Mrs M Gordon, Springfield, H.M.S. "PEARL" Torbay. Sunday, 11th March 1832. Postmarks: black circular BRINHAM, red circle F 6 MR 1832, black oval PP Rate, red oval IO F NOON IO MR 6 1832, black wax seal. Entire letter.

2: Tenerife to Santa Cruz, March 19th 1832, concluded at Santa Cruz 21st March 1832. “Running down for Teneriffe (sic) 19th March 1832, then Santa Cruz 21st March. “I certainly never suffered half so much from sea sickness, as I am only just now getting alright again.” “We arrived here yesterday but on anchoring were ordered to get under weigh again as they were sadly afraid of the Cholera which they heard was in London.” . Entire letter.


3: Port Royal Jamaica, 19th Apr 1832, received 4th June 1832. TPO Strand black stamp, Maltese cross red stamp LS 4 JUL 1832, oval red stamp. “The Admiral is not here but is expected in about a fortnight. An old aquaintance Commodore Farquhar is however here.” . Entire letter.


4: Montego Bay, Jamaica, dated 1st Aug 1832 received 5th Oct 1832. “I have this moment arrived from Honduras. Since I wrote I have been down to BALISE (Honduras) and am ordered to look in here on my way to Port Royal. . . my rascal of a cook had run away. . My thermometer night and day is never under 85 in my cabin.” . Entire letter.


5: Port Royal Jamaica dated 30th March 1833 received 16th May 1833. Black line stamp for Liverpool red circle handstamp G 16 1833. “Our little Commodore is very well and hourly expecting the arrival of the new Admiral. The delay in the Admirals arrival entitles him to receive all the emoluments of an Admiral and Commander in Chief. Young Burnett, nephew to Mrs. Farquherson of Inverathie, has just joined the Pearl.” . Entire letter.


6: Halifax dated 9th May 1833 received 17th June 1833 - complains about the good conditions for the freed slave workers / slaves. One side cross-written, Red wax seal with greyhound-type dog, Oval red O. F.NOON.IO JU stamp, black TP Rate 2 stamp, black Liverpool line stamp, three red circle stamps (Liverpool) 1833. “My Agent John Wilson esq. Kingston, Jamaica, will always take charge of anything in my absence. But as the Admiral has left Lady Cockburn and his daughter at Bermuda, no doubt he will make that his principal residence.” “They would not confirm Capt Burnett appointed by the Commodore. Capt. Maitland, several years my junior, and who just came out and went home immediately has got the vacancy. I am truly sorry to hear our Officers continue in the same state as 12 months ago and that the prospect is so gloomy, I wish I could see the faintest glimmering of improvement. But the World seems turned upside down and though the free-est, happiest and most independently well fed, well clothed, lightly worked people, are those that our philanthropists are upsetting the World for - Our W.I. slaves and our convicts, many of whom aught to have forfeited their lives to the laws of the Country; Such is the care taken of these people at Bermuda that they are never allowed to work in the slightest shower of rain, and are well clothed and well fed.”

7: . Entire letter. Bermuda dated 7th July 1833 received 28th Aug 1833. To Mrs Gordon, redirected the Revd Wm Smith Highland, Sussex. Ink 2/11 2/2. Red circle handstamp with cross, rect. red handstamp (indistinct). “I found the Admiral here and he has been very civil, but that is all that is in his power to be as far as promotion goes. He sails also in the morning for Halifax where he will remain this Summer.”

8: Entire letter. Port Royal, Jamaica dated 3rd Aug 1833 received 25th Sept 1833 - discusses West Indies Proprietors being satisfied with the amount of compensation after the emancipation of their slaves. Red circle handstamp F 2 SR 5 1833. “Mr. Jones is considered a cautious and highly respected proprietor and that his property consists of a small sugar estate and rather extensive cattle farm (or grazing farm). . . The estate is only a few miles from here, close to Spanish Town. I believe that the West Indian Proprietors generally will be very well satisfied with the amount of compensation, but it is very much doubted whether the ground will be cultivated after the emancipation takes place. It is certain there is some little apprehension for the tranquility of the Island as another Regiment are at this moment on their passage from Bermuda, but I cannot say I expect any serious disturbance.”

9: Entire letter. Port Royal, Jamaica 22nd / 24th / 25th Nov 1833 received 29th Dec 1833: Rect. red PACKET LETTER handstamp, red circle S C9DF2 1833 stamp., ink 2/2. Mentions sickness of crew of fever and Slave Bill by the Colonial legislature.
“We are expecting the Admiral early in next month but I suspect this sickness will induce him to shorten his stay among us. Lord Mulgrave has been very unwell but is now better and has returned to Spanishtown. (Rumour says he has had enough of the climate). . . .Packet has been put into quarantine in consequence of Cholera at Falmouth.” “there is still a rumour of further detention of the Packet to take home the account of the Slave Bill by the Colonial Legislature, it was to have been concluded on Saturday and now today is . . . but there may yet be delay.”

10: Entire letter. Port Royal 26th March and 31st March 1834 received 6th May 1834 – expecting Lord Sligo. With 2/8, ¾ ink, numerous handstamps: black NIGHT 7 MY8 1834, red circle F 6 MY 1834, black rect stamp , IO NOONIO MY3 red stamp oval, red wax seal. To Adam Gordon Esqr Blackheath Park Blackheath.

11: Entire letter. Havanah (sic) (Havana Cuba) Dated 12th Oct 1834 received 17th Jan 1835 – complains of being seasick and wanting to be home. Black circle R JA 17 1835 stamp, round black FPO JA17 1835 stamp, 3/- ink postage pd. “I think my last letter was from Mexico which I left on the 2nd Sept and reached Vera Cruz without any particular adventure, our warlike appearance having protected us for the Coast was robbed the day before and the day after we passed.”

12: Entire letter. Portsmouth 3rd Dec 1834: home after quarantined in Jamaica after returning from Havanah. Red wax seal with greyhound, red circle handstamp. “At Jamaica they were afraid of us coming from Havanah, and put us in Quarantine.”

THE END OF AN EPIC VOYAGE WHICH LASTED 2 YEARS 8 MONTHS 22 Days.

Provenance: A private collection of early letters and handstamps, property of a gentleman, including Great Britain postal history / British Colonies and Empire postal history, coffee, sugar plantations, maritime interest, slavery letters, emancipation, manumission, Jamaica. Bermuda. Havana.