At Sea. 1768-1769, Folio, [390 x 250mm], Original Full Vellum, pp 252, Laid paper with pre-printed sections and manuscript annotations, Two Fine Watercolours of the Ship, half vellum case.
An interesting mid eighteenth century account of a Trading voyage by one of the ships of the Honourable East India Company, at the time of the First Anglo-Mysore War, when they were consolidating their position as the greatest private commercial business in the world. The Essex made four trips to the Indies on their behalf between 1758-69.
Captain Francis Reed spent the first three months of 1768 on the Thames, taking in cargo and passengers, before setting off in April for Madras, via the Cape Verde Islands, where they arrive in October. There then follow visits to Colombo, Cochin, Malabar, Bombay and Tillechivry (Tellecherry) from whence they returned in April 1769 to England, via St Helena.
The logbook includes daily observations of courses steered and weather conditions, position and distance sailed, together with details of significant events. The end section contains lists of ship’s crew and passengers, including details of any desertions or fatalities.
