1854 Whaling Related Letter:Found On Nantucket,Ma. Start Price USD 125.00 Current Price USD 382.00 Time Left - Bid Count 9 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, August 31, 2008 End Time Sunday, September 07, 2008 Location Portsmouth, RI See more about '1854 Whaling Related Letter:Found On Nantucket,Ma.' Description This is the most interesting letter associated with whaling which I have very seen in my life. It was written by the whaling master Captain Thomas Burdett of Nantucket Island. It is written to Captain William Hathaway of New Bedford. Burdett was on a three year whaling expedition from 1854 to 1857 using the ship  "Statira" which was owned by Hathaway. The letter reveals some of the problems which Hathaway encounter on the voyage, including mutiny,scurvy, storms and the loss of whales which they had killed.The letter is as follows..... "Talcahauno April 16th 1854 Capt. Wm. Hathaway Jr. New Bedford..... Sir I arrived here sooner than I expected to. I had the scurvy on Board and was compelled to come in. I thought I should be able to get out again in 8 days but I have been detained longer on acct. of the weather. It has been very bad. I shall get out so soon as possible. We got a Whale off River Plate we had a rugged time with him, we saved 50 Bbls. If we had saved all of him I don't think he would have made more than 60 Bbls. I was greatly dissapointed. I thought he would make 100 Bbls. When we took him along side. I cruised there some time but did not see any more. We had a pleasant time round Cape Horn we got off Heaufo 28th December we saw Whales & got one, we lost another after he was dead we was on the weather side of Heaufo the land about 12 miles off & coming on a Gale as soon as the Boats get on board we close reefed the topsails and reefed the course, we had to carry that sail as long as we could to get off shore, it blew hard during the night. If we had got him along side we could not have saved him. It was hard to leave him but we could not help it, we are not the only ones that has lost a Whale the same way. I had a large Whale missed by Russell Hood. I have put him forward & taken Isac Manchester. I think he will make a good Boaststeerer. I think the rest will be good, I am well please with my Offices. I think they are all good men. If we had saved those 2 Whales we should have had 300 Bbls. instead of 130. I hope we shall be more fortunate when we see Whales again. I think I shall go off shore this season. I had 3 men dessert but caught them again, it is hard to tell how many more will go. I have discharged the Cook & Steward, they was both sick. The Doctor said they was not fit to go out in the Ship again, they have been sick most of the time since we left home. The Cook was a poor thing I had to put some one else in the Galley when we was 4 days out. I have shipped a good Shipkeeper, the Cooper is a good man but does not understand it. I have sent home 25 Casks of Sperm oil in the Alfred Gibbs of New Bedford. Capt. Jenny. 10 casks of Heads and 15 Body containing about 128 Bbls. marked & numbered. The articles you sent out to Disburse the Ship with, there was not much sale for. I could not sell enough to meet my expenses. I was obliged to draw on you. Please accept the draft, the amount is $185.02 I wish I could have got along without drawing but I could not. I hope I shall not have to draw on you again for some time, the articles I have will sell to the leeward, we are all well. I remain yours Thos Burdett."... The letter contains the original stamps of that period as well as some remnants of the wax seal.This letter belongs in a museum or in a fine private collection.       Place a Bid!