Eight Autograph Letters Signed from Captain John M. Preston to his brother Hinckley attorney Samuel Preston, describing a voyage from Newcastle to Callao, Peru, on which his ship is in a gale off Yarmouth and left 'a complete wreck' off Cape Horn.

Eight items totalling 3pp., 4to; 19pp., 12mo. All are all addressed to 'Dear Sam'. All in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. 'I never had such weather or suffered so much as I have this voyage from one thing and another' declares the author, and this series of eight letters provides a vivid account by the captain of a Victorian cargo ship of a voyage packed with misfortune. As mishap is heaped upon mishap the author's spelling deteriorates. ONE. Neville Hotel, Newcastle. Undated [late 1864]. Among other news, he writes that the Alice Walton is 'a good little ship' on which he will be 'very comfortable [...] I think she will sail well.' TWO. Newcastle. 6 November 1864. Newcastle is 'a wretched place to me [...] I have no acquaintance and I cannot afford do go to any amusements. [...] I wish you could spare time to come up here[,] if it was not so expensive travelling it would just suit Mother and Harriett for it is a nice ride in a steam boat down the river and you are on the sea shore at once.' He writes critically of 'Master John Abell', who has 'gone to Liverpool'. THREE. Yarmouth Roads. 3 December [1864]. 'Dear Sam | Here we are only about 200 miles from where we started. I have had most fearfull [sic] weather since we have been out and we lost most of our sails and forced to put in here for more. I sent a telegraph to Liverpool and they have sent one back to say that I am to wait here till I receive new sails so it will [be] Monday before I get away [...] I will write p[er] the Pilot when he leaves'. FOUR. He gives more details of his misfortunes after leaving Newcastle on 18 November. 'The main Topsail blew away and on the 24th. we had a terrific Gale and nearly all our sails blew away leaving us compleatly [sic] helpless on a dead lea shore. Sam I have seen some Gales of winds since I have been travelling the Salt Sea but I think I was in as great danger as ever I was in for we were surrounded by sands but we managed to put the Ship before the wind and run clean into Hasborourgh Roads were [sic] we had to remain 5 days repairing sails but could not get on Shore [T]here was a fishing Boat came along side but he asked me 5£ to land me and bring me back [A]fter we had repeared [sic] our sails we made another start and we got down as far as Orfordness Lights but the wind again increased again [sic] to a strong Gale and I was obliged to run into Yarmouth Roads were [sic] I am waiting for Sails from Liverpool which I expect tomorrow.' He is sending his brother 'a newspaper were [sic] you will see the dreadful wrecks there as [sic] been on and about this coast close to where I was and the Loss of life there was on the 24th 25 &c'. FIVE. Ship Alice Walton. 16 December 1864. Docketed 'Letters from John whilst Master of "Alice Walton"'. He gives a further description of the gale: 'The wind came a little fair the night before we started there several vessels started to go away one got stuck altogether another got on the sands and became a complete wreck another during the night ran on shore and filled with water I can assure you Sam this has been a fearfull Time about here for wrecks gales and destruction to Shipping'. SIX. Ship Alice Walton, Stanley Harbour, Falkland Islands. He begins: 'Dear Sam | You will think by this time that I am lost, but no not lost but very near it [...] We arrived off the Cape Horn on the 20th. of February when we had some of the most terrific weather and Gales of wind I ever experienced, we had these one after another till the 2nd. March when I was off the pitch of the Horn one of those terrific Seas came on board carring [sic] away the Bulwarks stauncheons the Cabin and nearly all its contents Wheel &c taking nearly all the Clothes and Nautical Instruments that was in the Cabin belonging to myself and officers leaving us destitute and a complete wreck three men was washed overboard but we recovered them again one man killed one with his leg Broken and 4 or 5 more or less injured, got the Ship before the Wind and the remainder of the crew came aft to me twice asking me to bear up for some Port, for they were nearly done up I at last bore up for this port and arrived on the 6th. March'. He continues by describing his plans for the resumption of the voyage. SEVEN. Stanley Harbour, Falkand Islands. 18 April 1865. 'I can assure you Sam I never had such weather or suffered so much as I have this voyage from one thing and another I have nearly lost all my clothes and will have to buy a few here to get along with I wrote in my last all about the accidance. [sic] My repears [sic] for the ship cost £594. 5. 5 it is a very bad job for me but I can say that I have done my duty and have been as carefull [sic] as I possible [sic] can.' EIGHT. Callao. 10 October 1865. He reports that he is 'starting for home [...] I came back from the Islands yestereday and will start from hear [sic] today but I am so busy that I have not a moment to spare & I have been verry [sic] ill with Fever but I am now better'.