MARINE SALVAGE OF THE GUNS OF THE "RAPHAEL"

A SCARCE MARINE SALVAGE LETTER FROM THE PENINSULAR WAR

17th Clan Chief of Ardnamurchan

NAVAL STORES OFFICER JAMES McKAIN, IN LISBON, PORTUGAL, IS UNABLE TO FIND
 "A DIVER TO ASCERTAIN THE STATE OF THE RAPHAEL'S GUNS

THIS DOCUMENT IS COVERED BY OUR WRITTEN, SIGNED AND SEALED
LIFETIME GUARANTEE OF AUTHENTICITY

Transcription:

Naval Stores, Lisbon
24th August 1813

Sir,

     In reply to your Excellency's Letter of yesterday's date/ I have to inform you that I have since my communication of the 6th made every enquiry for a Diver to ascertain the state of the Raphael's Guns/ but have not yet been able to find one adequate to that task: and I have not used any other measure, this appearing to me to be the first possible step.

I have the honor to be,
Sir, Your Excellency's
most obedient,
humble Servant

                                                  James McKain
                                                  Naval Officer
His Excellency
Sir Charles Stuart, K.B.
Lisbon

James McKain, Royal Navy Purser and Storekeeper
17th Chief of Clan Iain of Ardnamurchan
(1781 - 1845)

James McKain was the eldest son of James and Ann (née Honeywood) McKain and was born in 1781 at Bungay, Norfolk. On the death of his father, James senior, in 1828, James succeeded him as the 17th Chief of Ardnamurchan. James junior married Kate Lewis, daughter of Captain William Dobbin R.N. of the ancient family of Carrickfergus, on 4th January 1821 at Steynton, Pembrokeshire. They had nine children. James entered the Navy in 1803 and served for 25 years as Purser (Paymaster), Naval Storekeeper and Clerk of the Cheque at His Majesty's Dockyards during the following periods:

Lisbon 1808-1815
Pembroke 1815-1822
Sheerness 1822-1827
The Royal Dockyard at Woolwich 1827-1832

He retired on 27th June 1832 and spent his latter years in Bordeaux, France where he resided until his death in 1845. (extract from: "History and Genealogy of the Ancient House of Ardnamurchan" by C.A.Mackain, M.A., F.R.E.S., 1943)

As a further note: We have not been able to find the "Raphael" listed in the British Fleet Records and thus are not sure if it was possibly a Spanish or Portuguese vessel.

Document Specifications:  An extremely fine handwritten ALS letter, signed by James McKain as Naval Officer, Naval Stores, Lisbon and dated August 24th 1813. Single Sheet measures 12¾" tall x 7⅞" wide (323mm x 200mm), on batonne laid paper, watermarked with seated Britannia within triple oval beneath British crown, with minor edge toning along the top. Writing on one side as shown. This is a beautiful, handwritten letter by the man who would become the 17th Clan Chief of Ardnamurchan, as he attempts to find "a Diver to ascertain the state of the Raphael's Guns". This is the only Marine Salvage letter we have ever handled from the Peninsular War. From the Stuart Correspondence.

 Offered by Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd

End of Item - BSL - 1813 HMS Raphael Marine Salvage

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