1849 SPERM WHALING VOYAGE LETTER SENT FROM SHIP “WILLIAM & ELIZA,” NEW BEDFORD for Sale

1849 SPERM WHALING VOYAGE LETTER SENT FROM SHIP “WILLIAM & ELIZA,” NEW BEDFORD For Sale

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1849 SPERM WHALING VOYAGE LETTER SENT FROM SHIP “WILLIAM & ELIZA,” NEW BEDFORD:
$294.00

1849 SPERM WHALING VOYAGE LETTER SENT FROM ONBOARD SHIP WILLIAM & ELIZA, NEW BEDFORD. This two-part whaling letter, written onboard the whaling ship William and Eliza, is signed “Henireque,” but I believe it may have been written by James L. Clark, 2nd mate on the voyage. The letter is addressed to Avery Clark, W. Fairhaven, Massachusetts, with a “Dec. 5” postmark, mailed via “Ship.” The writer states, “Cyrus gets along admirably, he stands high in Capt. Allen’s estimation. . . .” Research has confirmed the “Cyrus” is Cyrus E. Clark, Jr., boatsteerer, probably Avery Clark’s brother, and likely related to James. Also, Capt. Allen is Captain Frances Allen, master of this voyage, which departed New Bedford, MA, on June 27, 1848, for the Pacific and returned on June 10, 1852, with 1,218 barrels of sperm whale oil and 53 barrels of whale oil.

Transcript:

No. 3

On board ship Wm. & Eliza

Lat. 10°S, Long 79°W Sept. 2 1849

Maria & Avery Dear Cousins

As we are now bound to Callao, and shall probably have an oppornity [sic] of sending letters I thought I would commence one more. I have but little encouragement to write. We are now nine months out and not a line have I received from home. We have been at Valparaiso & Paita, at both of which places letters are deposited by the overland mail. Saw a plenty for other ships but not a solitary one for the Wm. & Eliza. How is it? There cannot certainly be any mistake about knowing where to direct them. . . . I write again to direct all letters sent by the overland mail to be left at Paita. If we do not get any at Callao I shall say as you did Avery that a letter that is not worth answering is not worth writing---

. . . We have that same 80 bbls spm that you have heard of so often and have had no chance to get more. It has been a very dry time with all the ships in the Pacific lately. We have heard but of very little oil taken and that is some satisfaction for “misery loves company” you know.

Cyrus gets along admirably, he stands very high in Capt. Allen’s estimation and it would be strange if he did not for he is one of a thousand and will make a first rate officer and sailor.

Sept. 9th off Callao, the island

St. Lorenzo dis. 2 leagues

We are now but a few miles from Callao, but not near enough to send a boat on shore tonight but I must have my letters ready to send early tomorrow. I shall wait until a boat comes off before I seal mothers letter for I expect there will be letters for me by the overland mail and if there is I want to give you credit for them. … We have had no chance to get letters from ships yet for we have not seen any that sailed after we did. Our next cruise is to be off the coast of Peru and I am in hopes to be more fortunate than we have been.

Give my respects to your father & Frederick & be sure & write by every ship and by the overland mail directed to me at Paita.

Adios prings mio

Henireque

The 3-page letter measures 8 inches by 10 inches and is written in ink; there are folds and light staining. Page 1 is more difficult to read than page 2 and 3, due to fading.

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