3/21/2009 4:35 PMHere are two very historic handwritten letters (found at the end of this post-- click 'Read More' to continue) which were authored in 1860. These rare documents were stored for years in England by the family Augusts Phillimore, Captain in the Royal Navy and commander of the British frigate " Curacoa". They were later sold at an estate sale and then again sold at an auction where Mr. Jim Spencer of Norfolk, England purchased them to add to his historic document collection.
When he was doing research on Captain Goldsborough he found our web site which inspired him to forward the orginal letters to the Association for preservation. Mr. Spencer wrote,
"I have had a lot of fun in researching them, but having found your website and Goldsborough Association details, I consider that, morally, they belong to you. Please, therefore, accept them for your archives with my best wishes to you all and the ship."
The orginal letters have been sent to the Naval Historian for permanent preservation on behalf of Mr. Spencer and all Goldsborough crew members.
Basically what the letters refer to is an incident on April 21st 1860, when a British skiff, commanded by some likly intoxicated British sailors, allegedly rammed a skiff from the U.S. Frigate Congress which was at the time, commanded by Lt. Smith. Smith, taking exception to the behavior of the British sailors actions, filed a formal complaint with Captain Goldsborough. The next day, April 22, Captain Goldsborough... Read More »