Fine Books and Manuscripts

Small 4to (245 x 190 mm). 64-pages in two hands, a note inside the front cover listing the ships of the squadron and the name of the Princess Royal's 1st Lieutenant, J. Kendall, vellum boards. [Bound With:] Reversed at the end of the volume is the log book of the H.M.S. Rainbow, commanded by Captain Kendall from 1 April 1780-16 July, 1781, off New York, 120 pages; [Laid in:] Oculist's bill, early 19th century; [With:] Log of H.M.S. Sphinx, also under Captain Kendall, 15 February-27 March 1779, off Sandy Hook, 41 pages, small 4to. The Princess Royal was dispatched to intercept Count d'Estaing, who had sailed from Touloun in April; they missed the Count by nearly two weeks, owing to vessels which were poorly equipped. "The delays consequent upon mal-administration prevented Byron sailing until 9 June, and even then his ships were wretchedly equipped and badly manned. The rigging was of second-hand or even twice-laid rope, and the ships' companies were largely made up of draughts from the gaols. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that the first bad weather should have scattered the ships and dismasted several, that gaol fever and scurvy should have raged among the crews, and the components of the squadron should have singly reached the American coast in such a state that they must have fallen an easy prey to an enterprising enemy. Fortunately d'Estaing retired from before Sandy Hook just in time to leave the passage open to the first of Byron's ships" (DNB).