"THE NEGRO BOY, IRTON, IS DETAIN'D ON BOARD THE PRIVATEER AND WILL BE MADE A PRIZE OF ..." BIRKETT (Henry, Prisoner of War in France in 1757)

Autograph Letter signed to Thomas Lutwidge saying that this is the first opportunity he has had to "acquaint you the I unfortunately fell in with & was taken by the Privateer Le Sauterelle Capt Peter de Beauregard of Brest of 16 Carr Guns, 16 Swivels and 200 Men on ye 22nd June last ... forty leagues to westward of Scillys. I immediately was ordered on board the Privateer where I remained with our Ship in Company cruising ... we arrived in Brest when we were ordered ... to Goals ... against Capt Beauregard's will who made his Owner Mr Clement a Merchant there stir so briskly about my Liberty that upon his Bond the Chief Mate & Boy were released ... to live in this place ... it's situated about sixty miles from Brest and 20 from Morlaix in a Tolerable Country where we made a shift to live as well as our Unfortunate Circumstances will permit tho it is very expensive. I desire you immediately send me a letter of credit on Mr Charles Sanderson at Morlaix who is a Correspondent of Mr Hours. I am now Endeavouring to get as many of my poeople out of Prison to this place as I can which I have reason to believe will be three or four at least ... the Negro boy Irton is Detain'd on Board the Privateer and will be made a prize of unless a proper Certificate of his Being a free British Subject is sent me over, which for ye Boy's sake I hope you will not Neglect ... also to my wife to the ... same effect desiring her to consult with you which I hope is not omitted. I beg you'll send me an answer as soon as possible ... I had eleven hundred barrels of Rice on board when I was taken ... Our ship sailing Prodigious slow and little Wind. John Orfour Yate from Charleston who is partner to Samuel Bowman was taken in May last. In his passage for London is now hear and lives along with me ... likewise London, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow Captains with New England, Virginia and West India Captains and Passengers, we are upward of two Hundred, out upon Bond and near Seven Hundred in the Castle at Brest, all Brought into that port within the last two months, English Merchant ships from all ports ... Having so many good acquaintance hear helps to Pass on the teadious hours ...", with a postscript saying that they are all well but "three, Sadley I lost going out, Thomas Venter Run away at Charlestown ,and my poor Boatswain John Harrison, I buried two days after we was taken ..." ending by asking him to show the letter to his wife, 2 sides folio, Carhain, 9th July worn and stained with some small holes but largely legible



Item Date:  1757

Stock No:  39526      £525

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