^#1949 ^Lot 2010 Matthew Fontaine Maury

War-dated LS signed “M. F. Maury C. Navy,” 23 pages, 7.75 x 9.5, August 4, 1862. Admiral Robert Fitz Roy, Royal Admiralty, of the Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade and Admiralty in London. The text in two secretarial hands. Maury gives a Southern account of the war in an effort to gain English recognition of the Confederacy. His letter discusses many subjects and points out the strengths of the Confederacy, the promise of its factories, and the impending lack of cotton shipments to England. Naval themes prevail, including his condemnation of the "paper blockade" and the development of the Confederate navy. In strong terms, this letter expresses Maury's personal optimism and convincing arguments of his position. In very good condition, with some light spreading and haloing to ink on some of the pages, scattered toning and soiling, foxing to several pages, and light handling wear. A more comprehensive description is available online at rrauction.com.

The Commander of the Confederate navy writes a long account of the Confederate position for the London Times in hopes of England’s recognizing the Confederacy.