Autograph Letter Signed ('Tobias Lear"), 6 pp recto and verso, 4to (conjoining leaves), Cadiz, January 4, 1813, to Charles D. Coxe, regarding current affairs in the Mediterranean, leaves creased and toned (some repair), tipped at all edges to larger mount. With Document Signed ("Tobias Lear"), 1 p, folio, Santo Domingo, October 15, 1801, being a passport for the Schooner Ariel of Baltimore, with consul's seal, light creasing, blank leaf tipped at all edges to 11 by 15.5 inch mount. Tobias Lear served as private secretary to George Washington from 1785 until the latter's death. In 1801 he was made consul at Santo Domingo, and the following year, consul general at Algiers. During his tenure he was celebrated for having successfully negotiated treaties with the Barbary Nations, but was abruptly removed at the onset of the War of 1812. His diplomatic career effectively over, he committed suicide a few years later. Lear writes this letter to Coxe, U.S. charge d'affairs at Tunis, commenting on the effects of war and passing on news of recent losses. In part: "While the war between the U.S. & G.B. will effectively prevent the Barbary powers from doing any injury to our Commerce in the Mediterranean, and the war between the Algerians & Tunisians prevents the latter from going into the Atlantic;--yet it is certainly proper to preserve the good understanding which has existed between the U.S. and the other [regions?], by all property means & I am glad to find that the measures you have taken with respect to the Bey of Tunis, are likely to have that effect. / We have no later news from the U. States thant what is contained in the enclosed letter. The losses .. have been very great at Lisbon & Gilbraltar. At the former place there are said to have been upwards of seventy vessels driven on shore, of which forty were Americans; and in Gibraltar Bay eleven American vessels have been driven on Shore; but only two or three, & no lives, lost. A number of vessels, English, Spanish & etc were lost on the back of the Rock, most of them entirely destroyed, and it is said about 300 persons perished. The loss of small vessels in Gibr Bay was also very considerable. In this bay one Am. vessel, without a cargo, was driven on shore and lost near Port. St. Mary's, the people saved.--some others a little damaged. --a Brig from Phia, the Recover, Capt. Butler, was lost, with his cargo, & two men, on the coast between this & Trafalgar."
Autograph Letter Signed ('Tobias Lear"), 6 pp recto and verso, 4to (conjoining leaves), Cadiz, January 4, 1813, to Charles D. Coxe, regarding current affairs in the Mediterranean, leaves creased and toned (some repair), tipped at all edges to larger mount. With Document Signed ("Tobias Lear"), 1 p, folio, Santo Domingo, October 15, 1801, being a passport for the Schooner Ariel of Baltimore, with consul's seal, light creasing, blank leaf tipped at all edges to 11 by 15.5 inch mount. Tobias Lear served as private secretary to George Washington from 1785 until the latter's death. In 1801 he was made consul at Santo Domingo, and the following year, consul general at Algiers. During his tenure he was celebrated for having successfully negotiated treaties with the Barbary Nations, but was abruptly removed at the onset of the War of 1812. His diplomatic career effectively over, he committed suicide a few years later. Lear writes this letter to Coxe, U.S. charge d'affairs at Tunis, commenting on the effects of war and passing on news of recent losses. In part: "While the war between the U.S. & G.B. will effectively prevent the Barbary powers from doing any injury to our Commerce in the Mediterranean, and the war between the Algerians & Tunisians prevents the latter from going into the Atlantic;--yet it is certainly proper to preserve the good understanding which has existed between the U.S. and the other [regions?], by all property means & I am glad to find that the measures you have taken with respect to the Bey of Tunis, are likely to have that effect. / We have no later news from the U. States thant what is contained in the enclosed letter. The losses .. have been very great at Lisbon & Gilbraltar. At the former place there are said to have been upwards of seventy vessels driven on shore, of which forty were Americans; and in Gibraltar Bay eleven American vessels have been driven on Shore; but only two or three, & no lives, lost. A number of vessels, English, Spanish & etc were lost on the back of the Rock, most of them entirely destroyed, and it is said about 300 persons perished. The loss of small vessels in Gibr Bay was also very considerable. In this bay one Am. vessel, without a cargo, was driven on shore and lost near Port. St. Mary's, the people saved.--some others a little damaged. --a Brig from Phia, the Recover, Capt. Butler, was lost, with his cargo, & two men, on the coast between this & Trafalgar."
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
