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JOHN H. WING : 1857 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM ONE BROTHER ABOARD A WHALING SHIP TO HIS BROTHER THE CAPTAIN OF THE BARK MATTAPOISETT

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is a super, original manuscript letter dated March 12th 1857 addressed to Captain Perry C. Wing on the Bark Valapraiso on the Atlantic. Here is a partial transcription: Dear Brother, I suppose that you are situated in a far better place than a whaling vessel for a living and for happiness in this life I have thought a great many times that I should like to be as well contented on shore as you are you don't know what a difference there is in living on the water some thousands of miles from home and friends or living ashore in all the luxuries and pleasures of a happy home if a man or a boy knows when he is well off when he is situated in a good place he had better not think of whaling for a living for it is poor business for a man to get a living by in these days there are advise you and all [couldn't read that part] other boys never to once think of whaling I should like to hear from you and know what kind of a place you have got I know that you have got a better place than I have got if you have got any place at all for here they are cussing you up hill and down all the time There is no peace for the good or bad here for they will cuss you for doing a thing right and if you do it wrong they will cuss you so much the harder for it. sometimes I have a great mind to run away when we get in port and then I think it all over and let it drop and try to make the best of it. the mate and Captain are cussing on another all the time and one says he wishes the other was in hell and the other says the same and so they keep it up all the time the second mate says that he will leave the vessel before long if there is not better work and most all the crew will leave to. I expect and I do not blame them for doing so. and so things goes and look pretty gloomy sometimes it is enough to make one heart sick to look at. things for me have no oil nor have not seen any thing that looks like a sperm whale since we were out and I don't know as we ever shall. we are now bound into for water and [couldn't read] to curl and paint the ship. and I expect we shall get a few days sun ashore to knock the scurvy out of our bones and then when we come out I expect we shall go into the Indian Ocean and cruise next season and try our luck there at whaling, It is some 4 months since I left home and I have been as well as usual in the past time and I hope you have enjoyed good health and a happy time to. I suppose that all the folks are well about and if not I hope they are, but I don't think they trouble them selves thinking about me for while they are enjoying all the privileges and pleasures they do not trouble their minds much about a poor sea-faring fellow who is in as you might say a prison but I want you should give my best respects and love to them all and tell them that I wish it was my lot to be with them the night you get this letter. tell them all to write as often as they can and not guide forge (?). there old friend tell Ike dyer to be a good boy and mind papa and mamy. cannot think of much more to write now so I will bid you good night by simply asking you be a good boy. Love….. Rachel…..and albeit our relation not. Forgetting take a good portion for yourself please do write one a good long letter talking all about how things stand about home so good night. Goodbye, From Your Affectionate Brother John A. Wing. The letter is in poor shape with splits along all folds but remarkably legible and complete. Poor.. Book Condition: Poor

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