. Thirty-six voyages to various parts of the world, made between the years 1799 and 1841. ls were stranded and wrecked along the coast; five sail ofEnglish transports were thrown on shore near La Teste, andmost of their crews perished in the same gale. On my arrival, allmy papers were sent up to Paris, and although all well, we werecompelled by the government to ride quarantine for six days. La Teste is a poor little village, principally supported byfish and oysters taken in its waters and sold in Bordeaux, fromwhich city it is distant thirty miles, and fifty-four from the mouthof the Garonne.
. Thirty-six voyages to various parts of the world, made between the years 1799 and 1841. ls were stranded and wrecked along the coast; five sail ofEnglish transports were thrown on shore near La Teste, andmost of their crews perished in the same gale. On my arrival, allmy papers were sent up to Paris, and although all well, we werecompelled by the government to ride quarantine for six days. La Teste is a poor little village, principally supported byfish and oysters taken in its waters and sold in Bordeaux, fromwhich city it is distant thirty miles, and fifty-four from the mouthof the Garonne. The harbor has a bad sand-bar at its mouth ;is fit entrance only for small vessels of a light draft of water;and even for them it is dangerous to approach in bad weather. I will here insert a copy of the first letter written to myowners. Messrs. Lawrence and Whitney, Strong and Miles, and JamesLovett, Esq. Gentlemen :—I arrived here on the 20th of last month,after a rough passage of thirty-seven days. No sale at all canbe had for cotton and no security for any thing; the agents and. VOYAGE IN THE SCHOONER DAVID POETEK. 167 owners of the cotton are unwilling to receive it, and one and allrefuse to pay the freight. As soon as I can obtain permission,I shall discharge the vessel, forward all the cargo up to Bor-deaux by land, and endeavor by law to force the consignees ofthe cotton to receive it. In fine, I shall be happy if they do notthrow the cotton on my hands for the freight. JSTo merchant in Bordeaux is willing to advance me halfthe amount of the freight due, and retain it as security. Inshort, it is with the greatest difficulty I can obtain sufficientmoney from my consignees, Messrs. Brun freres, to pay thenecessary disbursements on my vessel. It is therefore at pre-sent impossible for me to say what I shall do. If I could col-lect my freight, I could remit the amount to the United Statesthrough England, and gain on the exchange from seventeen totwenty per cent.; or if I
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectvoyagesandtravels
