1864 (September 20) Shimonoseki Campaign & Fall of Nanking,
stampless cover & letter from Shanghai to Boston, from the French
Post Office
1864 (September 20) Shimonoseki Campaign & Fall of Nanking,
stampless cover & letter from Shanghai to Boston, from the French
Post Office in Shanghai, endorsed "via Marseilles", struck with
black double-circle Shanghai French c.d.s., matching framed PD
handstamp in black, carried via the P&O line via the Suez,
struck with French PAQ ANGL V. SUEZ c.d.s. (2 Mar), struck with red
"6" accountancy mark and blue framed "Fr. Service" handstamp, this
quite elusive and recorded only from August 1864 to September 1865,
Boston c.d.s. arrival backstamp (5 Dec), adhesive stain at top,
else a fine cover with fascinating historical contents. Mailed
while the American Civil War was raging at its height, this letter
offers a treaty-port perspective on events unfolding in East Asia.
Addressed to Dr. Seth L. Sprague of a prominent Massachusetts
maritime and mercantile family, it was written from Shanghai only
days after the Shimonoseki Campaign, the international expedition
launched against the anti-foreign Chōshū Domain, the author
reporting that "The allied fleet sailed from Yokohama, through the
straits into the Inland sea, engaged the forts of Shimonoseki - the
property of Prince Chioshiu, one of the most obstinate of the
Damios—destroyed them with one or two villages." He further records
that "At Shimonoseki, a party of 1200 marines was landed which fell
into an ambuscade and lost eight of their number," and that "The
natives fought with bows & arrows," warning that "had Chioshiu
succeeded in repulsing the allies, the whole country would have
risen and made a combined effort to drive foreigners from their
land." The letter also addresses the Taiping Rebellion, reporting
that "The rebels though not exterminated have been driven in every
direction, Nankin lately taken," a near-contemporary reference to
the fall of Nanking. The writer further records a visit to Shanghai
by Warren Delano II, a leading figure of the American China trade,
noting that "our Mr. Delano & family" had arrived, and that Delano,
"the father of two lovely daughters Dora & Louise," had created
"great excitement among all households."
