Lot 419

✉ ASCENSION. 1839. Entire letter datelined at top 'HM Brig Wolverine at Sea, April 22, 1839' and stating 'Ascension April 25, we arrived here this morning and sail again for the Congo' mailed to ABERDEEN and struck with fine SHIP LETTER / COWES in red (Robertson S2) on reverse and London transit cds (June 13). Finally rated at 4 shillings to pay (Ship Letter 1s. 4d.+ Cowes-Aberdeen 2s. 8d.). A fascinating and rare early entire from Ascension with a remarkable letter from an Anti Slavery Patrol ship. Content includes: 'from Gibraltar we made Sierra Leone in very few days...then to Cape Palmas to intercept and slavers we should fall in with...made sail for the Island of Princes (Principe) which is the Headquarters of all our suspects...captured a Portuguese schooner with 90 slaves on board, being leaky we took her back to Princess, found un-seaworthy she was condemned...(slaves) all minced together, men, women and children with hardly a rag to cover them...the Captain is American ...we have no right of search with America...after leaving Prince's we passed in sight of St. Thomas's then running south made Anna Bona.' .