NESTELL, William S.

Manuscript journal

(NESTELL, William S.). Manuscript journal. Various places, 1816-19. Folio, contemporary full leather minute book, recorded in ink, pp. 11. $1100. Interesting detailed journal apparently recording two trips by Nestell, the first in 1816 to San Sebastian, Spain and Bordeaux, France, and the second in 1819 to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Little is known of Nestell, who recorded his ship's manifest for the trip to Argentina and lists himself as "1st Master's Mate," of New York on board the "Buenas Aryean Corvette Horatio." Presumably his first trip to Europe was as a sailor, though his ship is not recorded. Three and a half pages are devoted to the European trip; six and a half to the trip to Buenos Aires; one page lists the crew of the Horatio. Of San Sebastian he writes: "The inhabitants seem to be wretchedly poor. The government is tyrannical in the extreme. One third of the people that I saw were priests who seemed to be as poor as any of them." Nestell was charmed by Bordeaux: "Surely the liberty of enjoying all the senses except one is preferable to having the enjoyment of one and not the majority. In France the citizen has all the liberty except the tongue which at its best is an unruly member which ought to have a curb." While in Buenos Aires Nestell was disturbed by the people, whom he called, "the most treacherous set of villains the world contains." He later witnessed a tragic incident involving a Jewish vendor: "Around the plaza square there are a number of Jews who have little stands covered with awnings where they vend knives, buttons, etc. One day there was about a 1000 soldiers exercising and perhaps as many spectators. A country man made his horse fast to one of the stantions. When the drums beat the horse started and like to have demolished the jew's fabric. The jew cast him off. The fellow made fast again and the third time when the villain drew his knife and thrust it in the jew's bowels, jumped on his horse and made off midst the huzzas of the spectators, not one making the least attempt to detain him." Bound in the rest of the book are pages of poetry. Small tear to first page of journal; boards separating, binding worn; journal account lightly browned, a few of the pages of poetry torn. A fascinating account, accompanied by a partial transcription of the journal.

• USD 1,100.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: 5134

• bookseller: Bauman Rare Books (USA)