One-page autograph letter giving orders to Bennett Munro, master of the sloop Peggy
[Bristol?, n.d. ca. 1800.]. Folio (approx. 11" x 7"), pervious folds, wrinkles, ragged margins with the loss of several words (sense remains clear); good. "Sir, You being master of the sloop Peggy your orders are to improve the first fair wind & to procede to the Coast of Affrica & touching at Riononous [Rio Noones?], if you can't make trade their to your mind, procede to other Ports not going further to Leeward than Cape Mount making all possible Dispatch considering your vesel is Single bottom. Take care to purchase a good cargo & then to procede to Havvanah with all possible dispatch & their to address your Self to Don Pedrue [word lost] or David Neagle Esq. there to have [word lost] Vesel & Cargo sold to the best advantage for your owner. Wishing you a good voyage and safe return -- Barnard Smith." At the bottom of the letter, still in Smith's hand: "I agree to Govern my self According to the above Orders." Signed "Bennet Munro" in his own hand. Munro (1749-1830) was a ship captain and trader in enslaved Africans who was born and died in Bristol, R.I. Barnard Smith was a hatter from Bristol, but was also the owner of several ships including the sloop Peggy which carried 46 enslaved Africans from Africa to Havana, having left Bristol on February 25, 1800. The nature of the "cargo" is never mentioned specifically but there's little doubt as to what it was. The registration for Peggy was "surrendered Aug. 26, 1800 at Newport, the vessel having been sold in a foreign port" - likely Havana. See Coughtry, The Notorious Triangle, p. 274; and, Ship Registers and Enrollments of Newport, Rhode Island, Providence, 1938-41, p. 493. Item #56627
Price: $4,000.00
