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Auction: 22025 - Stamps and Covers of the World
Lot: 334

Jamaica
1654 (1 Dec.) autograph letter signed by "John Disbrowe" to "Gentlemen" [of the Victualling Office] informing them of the stat of preparedness of the fleet and soldiers:
"We hope by tuesday morning next to have 14 or 15 ships ready to take in a good part of the foot, but the greatest cause of stay we now feare is for want of monyes to pay them att their shipping, & therefore have dispatch´d an Expresse to Coll Sydenham, that a Treasurer maybe hastned downe with monyes for them, & desire you would quicken him...doe not doubt but you are sensible how prejudiciall itt may be to the whole affaire if we should now after our readinesse in other respects loose one day upon this accompt. We hope within 8 dayes after the dispatch of the first squadron, we shall gett the remainder of the fleet ready, in case the Crow and the further supply of Water-caske that we have writt for to you be hastned hither, wherein we hope all endeavors possible on your part will not be wanting..."; together with a petition submitted by James Collelas, master of the Anne of Dieppe, taken by a Commonwealth ship on her return from trading in Senegal, to the Lord Protector, 20 December 1654.
Both affixed by old paper tape to folio. Unusual

Notes: John Desborough, Cromwell´s brother-in-law, headed a committee supervising the arrangements for the ‘Western Design´, Cromwell´s plan to attack Spanish possessions in the West Indies in the hopes of taking over their central American empire. The force fitted out by Desborough comprised around 40 ships, which were to sail under William Penn, and 7000 soldiers, under Robert Venables. The expedition sailed from Portsmouth that December. By the time they reached Barbados in February 1655 they were already on half rations. According to Venables´s wife, who sailed with them, it was a wicked army “sent out without arms or provisions”. After stopping over at Barbados, they attempted to take Hispaniola (Haiti). They were repulsed with heavy loss, and in order to recoup credit decided to attack Jamaica instead. In this they were successful, Spanish Town (Port Royal) surrendering to them on 17 May 1655. The island was to remain a British possession for the next three centuries.

provenance:
The Enys Collection of Autograph Manuscripts

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Sold for
£320