A COPY LETTER BOOK FROM H.M.S. BANN AND H.M.S. ONTARIO, 1820-1821

copy letter book of both these ships under the command of Commander (later Captain) Jodrell Leigh, in various parts of the Caribbean, 22 March 1820-20 November 1821, 58 & 7 leaves, contemporary sheep-backed wrappers, 12½ x 8in. (320 x 200mm), including a letter from Vera Cruz, 3 May, 1820, to Don José Davila apologizing and explaining the delay in refitting the Bann, a letter of 4 May, 1820, on the same subject to Don José Davila, a letter to the Commander in Chief of the Ships and Vessels at Havana requesting the release of prisoners and several letters to Rear Admiral Sir Home Popham, “a controversial figure, as well known for his invention of the ‘naval telescope’ used at the Battle of Trafalgar as for his unauthorized attack on Buenos Aires’ and several to Thomas Huskisson, Commander and Senior Officer at Jamaica.

H.M.S. Bann was commissioned January 1815, paid off June 1820 and recommissioned under Commander Jodrell Leigh, paid off June 1825 and sold to H. Cropman for £1,050. H.M.S. Ontario was commissioned July 1818, paid off December 1821 and re-rigged as ship 1825 and sold to Mr Stone for £760.