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7 August 1828
Montgomery, James (1771-1854)
to Thomas Pringle
Discusses poetry versus fiction as an art form. Allows his poetry to be used by the Anti-Slavery Society for publication in their periodical.
GLC00496.199
circa 1830-1850
Noel, Baptist Wriothesley (1798-1873)
to unknown
Declines a request due to a previous engagement.
GLC00496.201
August 1833
Smith, William (fl. 1833)
Signed "W.S." Reports on the lack of progress in getting himself a position through Lord Landowne.
GLC00496.228
3 March 1832
Thompson, T. Renwick (fl. 1832)
Includes Thompson's letter to Pringle as well as Pringle's reply. Comments on their sending two articles on the same subject to the same paper. Feels that if Mr. Macaulay gives them an article on the W.I. question they should be glad as two attacks...
GLC00496.236
circa 1840's
Thornley, Thomas
Disappointed at lack of coverage of the Corn Law Meeting in the Morning Chronicle. Discusses an advertisement for resolutions from another quarter. Includes the member list of the Ipswich Committee.
GLC00496.238
circa 1830
Villiers, Charles Pelham (1802-1898)
Villiers, a British politician and lawyer, writes to an unknown recipient. Discusses a mutual friend [Sembish?]. Mentions The Examiner, a London newspaper. Discusses British politics, and an "engagement with the Yankees." Writes, "I am afraid...
GLC00496.242
20 September 1817
Webb, Mary (fl. 1817)
to Miss Ratledge
Webb, on the Island of Saint Helena while Napoleon was there, writes to her friend in London. Mentions a recent earthquake on the island. Refers to mutual acquaintances. Discusses ordering goods from the India Company. Comments that her daughter...
GLC00496.250
no date
Pringle, Thomas (1789-1834)
[Transmission of two cards for the Institute of France's annual assembly]
Attributed to Pringle, the Scottish poet and abolitionist, circa 1820s. Pringle relates that Athanase Coquerel sends compliments to [Ch. N. N.?] Richard and Elihu Burritt. Transmits two cards (not included) for the annual assembly of one of the...
GLC00496.276
18 July 1860
Green, Joseph W., Jr. (b. 1822)
to James Gregory
Discusses the contributions made by soldiers from Marblehead, Massachusetts in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Emphasizes the War of 1812, commenting on service aboard the ship Constitution by men from Marblehead. Expresses pride in...
GLC00498.02
23 September 1824
Pickering, Timothy (1745-1829)
to John Jay
A long letter on politics, foreign relations, Pickering's relationship with John Adams and others, and attacks on him in print. Extensively discusses the politics surrounding his "Review of the Adams & Cunningham Correspondence." Comments on the...
GLC00570
24 December 1860
Cooper & Pond (fl. 1860)
to Paul J. Semmes
Letter from a New York arms dealer informing Semmes that they have 930 Enfield rifles made for the British government. They are brand new and inspected. States the rifles are in great demand and if Semmes is interested, he should act quickly...
GLC00572.21
30 September 1846
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson) (1822-1885)
to Thomas S. Jesup
Transmitting a summary statement and muster roll of non-commissioned officers and privates from the 4th Regiment.
GLC00611
3 August 1829
Harrison, William Henry (1773-1841)
to John Cleves Short
Written after recall by Jackson as U.S. Minister to Colombia. Attacks Andrew Jackson and Simon Bolivar in some detail, and accuses them both of being ruthless men. Worries that Colombia will soon be very unstable, and that with his departure the...
GLC00632
6 May 1849 - 16 June 1849
Kell, John McIntosh (1823-1900)
to Mary Kell
Writes to his sister while suspended from duty and awaiting Court Martial aboard the Albany. Describes surrounding islands of Santo Domingo and Navaro with stories of landscape and native islanders. Arrives at Aux Cayes, Haiti, on 11 June 1849 and...
GLC00684.02
1855-1859
William McBlair collection [Decimalized .01-.72]
Collection of more than 70 documents regarding William McBlair, a United States Naval captain involved in American efforts to suppress the slave trade on the African coast in the 1850s. McBlair commanded the "Dale" in the U.S. Navy's African Squadron...
GLC00722
19 January 1858
Conover, Thomas A. (1794-1864)
to William McBlair
Ordering McBlair to return with his ship to his "cruising ground" and continue his "suppression of the slave trade." Says McBlair should first take on recruits and supplies, then proceed to the coast to suppress the trade. States he is enclosing two...
GLC00722.02
25 June 1857
General orders for the government of the U.S. Naval Forces on the West Coast of Africa
General orders regarding Navy protocols and conduct of officers. Clerical copy, tied with red ribbon. Conover's name appears to be clerically signed. Written on board the U.S.S. "Cumberland. " Forwarded to William McBlair by Conover.
GLC00722.03
circa 1857
Unknown
Extracts from the "Private Instructions" of the Navy Department to the Commander in chief of the U.S. Naval Forces on the West Coast of Africa
Includes extracts from GLC00722.01, noting that the U.S. flag "loses its true character, when it is worn by those who have no right to wear it...such a pretension would subject the flag to degradation and dishonor." Also includes a description of how...
GLC00722.04
16 June 1857
Livingston, John W. (1804-1885)
Ordering McBlair to sail to Porto Praya and await further orders. Also orders him to deliver enclosed orders to Commander Thompson. Written on board the U.S.S. "St. Louis" in Funchal Bay, Madeira. John W. Livingston was then a United States Naval...
GLC00722.11
26 July 1857
Morse, W. H. (fl. 1857)
Refusing McBlair's request to store naval materials in a United States owned warehouse, because the warehouse is too full already. William H. Morse was the U.S. consul in Cape Verde.
GLC00722.12
12 October 1857
McBlair, William (d. 1863)
to Charles Wise
Discussing the capture by a British ship of a vessel flying the American flag. Commodore Wise was the captain of the HMS "Vesuvius," which had recently captured the "Bremer." McBlair states that because the "Bremer was flying the United States flag...
GLC00722.14
22 October 1857
Cunningham, John S. (d. 1894)
Lists how many rations sailors are willing to give up, and how long the current rations will last at that rate. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," on the "Kongo River." John S. Cunningham was a purser in the United States Navy; he later rose to...
GLC00722.15
27 October 1857
Walker, Theodore L. (fl. 1857)
Reports on his expedition to the H.M.S. "Myrmidon" and subsequent journey up the Congo river. Walker, a lieutenant on the U.S.S. "Dale," had been sent by McBlair in an armed boat to join the British vessel (which took them in tow) in its cruise for...
GLC00722.16
8 November 1857
Reports that on his expedition up the Congo River one of the launch boats was lost. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at the mouth of the Congo River.
GLC00722.19
11 November 1857
Pelot, Thomas P. (d. 1864)
Reporting the events that led to the British capture of the slave trading ship "Clara B. Williams," which had been falsely flying the American flag. The crew is being sent to Sierra Leone to be tried. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," on the Congo...
GLC00722.21
12 November 1857
Copy of certificates of Lieuts. Walker & Cummings, regarding the casks left by the "W.G. Lewis"
Copy of Walker's statement certifying that he saw about ten large casks which Captain Fredell said belonged to him "but that he did not want them." Fredell was the captain of the barque "William G. Lewis," a suspected slave ship captured by the U.S...
GLC00722.22
[Copy of a statement regarding capture of a slave ship]
Copy of a statement regarding a captured suspected slave ship. Certifying that "Mr. Curtis, the 1st mate of the barque 'Wm G. Lewis," stated that no one on board the ship had contact with the mainland. With the names of Theodore L. Walker, Hunter...
GLC00722.23
13 November 1857
Burgess, George F. (1827-1860)
Unable to furnish information regarding captured slave trading vessels. Written on board the H.M.S. "Hecate," off the Congo River. George F. Burgess was a Commander in the British Navy and captain of the "Hecate."
GLC00722.24
circa September 1858
Meeuwsen, C. (fl. 1858)
[Listing ports of call and cargoes of a Dutch ship] [in Dutch]
Listing ports of call and cargoes of a Dutch ship, with prices in dollars listed as well. Items listed range from January through 2 September 1858.
GLC00722.27
9 January 1858
Goodridge, J. Jr. (fl. 1858)
Regarding the arrest of Charles Campbell, a sailor from the "Dale." Campbell, who had deserted McBlair's ship, had been taken prisoner by Goodridge and his men when he was found hiding on a whaling ship. Written from the United States Consulate on...
GLC00722.28
4 February 1858
Sullivan, Jeremiah (fl. 1858)
[Affadavit regarding his imprisonment]
Details events of his imprisonment on the African coast, along with Patrick Kelly and Manoel Ackmore, all sailors in the United States Navy. Affidavit relates the arrest of these three sailors after a scuffle with Portuguese soldiers and discusses...
GLC00722.29
13 April 1858
King, Stephen G. (fl. 1858-1859)
Requesting a survey of the ship's sails. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." King was the Sail Master on the "Dale."
GLC00722.32
Reports that the ship's sails have been inspected, and that they are "unfit for further use." Instead recommends "that they be used for parcelling." Signed by King, Davidson and Cummings, and signed and approved by McBlair. Written on board the U...
GLC00722.33
23 April 1858
Davidson, Hunter (1827-1913)
Copy of letter to William McBlair
Copy of a "survey upon all the important iron-work of this ship." Reports that much of the ship's ironwork is "much worn and appear unsafe." With the names of Davidson, Cummings and Dixon (all three are clerical signatures). Written on board the U...
GLC00722.34
Copy of a letter to McBlair, stating that some of the bolts, chains and ironwork on board the "Dale" are "defective and unsafe." Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," at Porto Praya, Cape Verde.
GLC00722.35
2 May 1858
Adams, John (fl. 1858)
Requesting permission to return to Liberia. States that he needs to return to personally report a death, or be liable for punishment under the laws of Liberia, of which he is a citizen. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Adams is not in the May...
GLC00722.36
8 July 1858
Winder, Edward L. (fl. 1858)
Relates a conversation with British Naval Commander Wise regarding capture of a slave trading ship. Winder, an American sailor had been stationed on the British ship "Vesuvius," under the command of Wise. Wise told Winder that he had boarded a ship...
GLC00722.39
31 August 1858 - 3 September 1858
Report of target practice on board the U.S.S. Dale
Reporting the outcomes of three target practice sessions, for cannons, muskets and rifles, on board the U.S.S. "Dale." Docketed in clerical hand, with note: "Sent to Chief of Bureau"
GLC00722.41
1 January 1859
Reports on the capture of the American schooner "Angeline" by a British ship. Relates a conversation he had with William Kerr, a sailor on the "Angeline," regarding its capture. States that forces from the British steamer "Conflict" captured the...
GLC00722.43
31 January 1859
Reporting, at McBlair's request, that $1,568 is "on board to the credit of the government" and $1,450 is due to the "Kroomen" (native crewmen from Liberia) of the ship. Also notes that he requested $6,000 from the flag ship, but received $4,000....
GLC00722.47
12 February 1858 - 5 March 1858
to V. McBlair
Letter to his wife discussing life at sea and his visit to Liberia. Upon arrival in Liberia, McBlair's ship "Dale" gives the young nation a twenty-one gun salute. In Monrovia, the Liberian capital, McBlair meets with President Benson and former...
GLC00722.59
23 April 1858 - 3 May 1858
Writing to his wife, discusses British pressure regarding American suppression of the slave trade, as well as his daily operations at sea, family affairs and religion. Hopes to return to the United States by the first of December and believes "The...
GLC00722.60
24 June 1858 - 20 July 1858
To his wife discussing naval life and family matters. Discusses his movements and activities at sea. Notes that some Liberians misspell their names, including a young boy he has taken on board the ship to help for a time. States that he is getting...
GLC00722.62
25 December 1858 - 14 January 1859
To his wife, discussing family and life at sea. Has received small gifts of gold jewelry for his family from a local governor and a native chief. Hopes he will return home in May, and says the weather has cooled recently. Written on board the U.S...
GLC00722.63
7 February 1859
To his wife, discussing attendance at state dinners and a Liberian church service. Enjoys the state dinners, and does his best to create good will with other nations. Enjoys the church service, though much of it feels very foreign to him. Also...
GLC00722.64
14 March 1859 - 16 March 1859
To his wife, discussing his dislike of the British, the death of a United States Consul in Sierra Leone by "homicide", and the island of Goree, a former center of the African slave trade. States he is "Anti-Anglais," calling the British "National...
GLC00722.65
James, William (d. 1827)
English account of the capture of the H. M. Brig Alacrity
A handwritten excerpt from William James' "Naval History of Great Britain, Volume V," giving an account of the capture of the British brig "Alacrity" by the French brig "Abeille," which occurred on 26 May 1811 near Corsica. James describes the...
GLC00722.66
15 March 1858
Discussing events at Saint Helena since McBlair left. A friendly letter, sent via Captain Goodridge of the U.S.S. "Hazard." Name of the signer is illegible.
GLC00722.69
27 September 1858
Sends letters and information, and thanks McBlair for a dog given as a gift. Written from Saint George's Castle, also known as Elmina Castle, a former prison and center of the African slave trade. Name of signer is illegible.
GLC00722.70
22 May 1836
Fiske, E.G. (fl. 1836)
to Miss S. H. Fiske
Writes to his sister concerning Indian problems. Discusses Texas and the capture of Santa Anna.
GLC00765
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