[FISHERY.]

A collection of 10 manuscript documents concerning the capture of a whale in Davis Straits in June 1788. Dated between 7 June 1788 and 27 January 1789.

Manuscript documents, with dockets; old folds. A letter from the owners of the Lord Hood of Dunbar,Thomas Meik, Charles May, Robert Cunningham, and G. Nelson., to Messrs. John Wadrington of Newcastle, dated 19 September 1788. The Sarda is accused of having taken a whale by unfair means that properly belonged to the Lord Hood. In it, Messrs. John Wadrington are asked to ‘employ an attorney in whom you can confide, to investigate, this matter to the bottom and it is our own opinion that the privatlyer he goes to work so much the better, as the Master & crew of the Sarda will be on their guard if they at first hear that an action is to be taken’. It further mentions that enclosed are copies of:The declaration of Alexander Downie, harpooner onboard the Lord Hood, dated 3 September 1788.The declaration of William Liston, Specksoneer of the ship Raith of Leith, dated 6 September 1788.Remarks taken from John McKenzie’s journal while Master of the Lord Hood, dated 7 June 1788 ‘in Davie’s Streights Lat. by . . . 17°35N’. As well as another extract from McKenzie’s journal.Two copies (one rough, one fair) of extracts from each of the above accounts, as well as that of Jacob Hays of the Ann & Elizabeth of Whitby.The correspondence continues with a letter, dated 7 November 1788, from the owners of the Lord Hood to Messrs. Wren & Airey of Newcastle, giving them further details of the case against the Sarda. They state ‘it really appears to us to be a matter of doubt whether we will be able to establish a proper claim to the fish in question, the whole depends on you being able to draw something out of the Sarda’s crew to effectuate this. We are resolved not to enter into an expensive litigation, without knowing the footing we have to stand on’. The declarations of the Captain and harpooner of the Raith of Leith is enclosed with this letter.The collection ends with a letter from Wren & Airey, dated 27 January 1789, stating: ‘The evidence stated we fear will not be sufficient to support an action against the Sarda. Though it is sufficient to convince us the fish belonged to the Lord Hood. We fear the crew of the Sarda will be very well taught what answers to give in case any enquiries are made which they must be aware of’.

• GBP 3,500.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: T2943

• bookseller: Bernard Quaritch Ltd. (GREAT BRITAIN)