THE RELIC OF THE REVOLUTION, Containing a Full and Particular Account of the Sufferings and Privations of all the American Prisoners Captured on the High Seas, and Carried Into Plymouth, England, During the Revolution of 1776; With the Names of the Vessels Taken--the Names and Residence of teh Several Crews...Also, An Account of the Several Cruises of the Squadron Under the Command of Commodore John Paul Jones, Prizes Taken, Etc., Etc. By Charles Herbert, of Newburyport, Mass. Who was taken prisoner in the Brigantine Dolton, Dec. 1776, and served in the U.S. Frigate Alliance, 1779-80
(Boston: Published for the Proprietor by Charles H. Peirce, 1847).
A RARE CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNT, FIRST EDITION IN UNUSUALLY FINE CONDITION. The author was a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and at less than 19 years of age shipped out on the "Dalton". More than four years was he away, and half of those years were spent in confinement as a prisoner of war. Herbert's release was occasioned through the efforts of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Minister to France at the time, in securing a trade of prisoners between the nations. The author joined the "Alliance" frigate forming part of the squadron of Commodore John Paul Jones. He served for some time before returning to Newburyport and becoming a private citizen. His journal, kept while in prison served as the basis of his book offered here. Item #32215
First Edition. Illustrated with a wood engraved frontispiece and engraved title-page. Small 8vo, publisher's original brown cloth, the spine lettered and elaborately decorated in gilt, the covers blocked in blind incorporating elaborate arabesque designs in an all-over pattern. vi, 258 pp. A truly fine copy, unusually well preserved, the cloth binding in excellent condition, the text-block very clean and virtually without the usual foxing or staining. Rare thus.