2022-07 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/16/2022
Autograph Letter Signed, “Thomas Massie.” Two pages, 7 ¼” x 9 ¼. No place. No date. The document reads: “My Dear Father: I now take up my pen to enclose you another sheet in the letter Mr. (?) is so kind as to take charge of for me. It is reported here that Jamaica is taken by the French Toulon and Spanish Fleet which if true will give a dreadful blow to the English commerce, Intelligence which is published as authentic has also been received from the isle of France stating the capture of 30 British Indiamen by Admiral Linois. The French have now twenty ships of the Line at Brest beside a great many frigates independent of the Rochefort and Toulon fleets, and there are even more first rates at Antwerp that will be soon ready for sea. England cannot send to sea more than fifty ships of the Line because she actually wants men and money to equip the rest she is fighting now not for glory but actually for existence as a Nation. It is the opinion of most intelligent men whom I have conversed with that the Government will declare itself Bankrupt. The National debt is so enormous that to pay the interest of it requires so large a proposition of the money they are capable of raising, that enough is not left for the means of a sufficient defense. Mr. (?Gist) I suspect feared (?) went of this kind from his great anxiety to sell his stock and purchase Land.” With our correspondent’s reference to Admiral Linois’ capture of ‘British Indianmen’ we can date this fascinating letter to between 1803 and 1806, near the outset of the extended Napoleonic Wars. While our correspondent expresses fear of the collapse of Britain, England would continue to stand against the expanding French Empire with a revolving set of European allies until the Sixth coalition restored the French monarchy and exiled Napoleon to Elbe in 1814. A fascinating firsthand account of this turbulent period at a very dangerous point in England’s history.
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