(WHALING) Farragut David Letter concerning a seized whaler c

Sale 2324 - Lot 362

Price Realized: $ 406

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Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600

(WHALING.) Farragut, David. Letter concerning a seized whaler, copied by Farragut's staff and signed by him. Document Signed as "D.E. Farragut, Comd'g." One page, 11 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches; trimmed without loss of text, mount remnants on left edge. La Paz, Mexico, 20 November 1855

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The original letter had been written by United States consular agent Thomas Sprague, addressed to "the commanding officer of any American Man of War." Sprague complained that "General Blancarte has seized the American whale-ship Rebecca Adams, removed the officers and crew on shore, and put them in prison, without any lawful cause. I have demanded their release, but as yet have not been able to procure it. There are also several females among these sufferers. The presence of an armed vessel is required instantly at this Port." The Rebecca Adams had left San Francisco in April 1855, and Starbuck makes no note of this incident or the vessel's eventual return to port (page 532). Farragut's clerk copied out the present copy at the Mare Island Navy Yard in California, where it was signed by Farragut and forwarded to another officer for response.