Marshall Rare Books
A Narrative of the Loss of His Majesty's Ship the Litchfield, Captain Barton, on the Coast of Africa with an Account of the Sufferings of the Captain and the surviving Part of the Crew, in their Slavery under the Emperor of Morocco
Third edition of a scarce account of the HMS Litchfield, wrecked on the Barbary coast of North Africa on the 28th November, 1758. The HMS Litchfield, a 50-Gun ship in the Royal Navy, was launched in 1746 and had participated in the Seven Years War.
London, for T. Davies, 1768, half title, [4] 80pp, ownership notes to half title, rebound, calf backed marbled boards, red morocco label, 8vo.
Third edition of a scarce account of the HMS Litchfield, wrecked on the Barbary coast of North Africa on the 28th November, 1758. The HMS Litchfield, a 50-Gun ship in the Royal Navy, was launched in 1746 and had participated in the Seven Years War.
In 1758 the Litchfield was placed under the command of Commodore Augustus Keppel, as part of a squadron ordered to transport troops to West Africa to capture the island of Goree form the French. Litchfield was assigned to lead the squadron. After a heavy gale scattered the fleet, at night the sailing master reckoned their position was twenty-five leagues form the African shore. This proved to be incorrect, as at dawn the following morning Lichfield ran aground on the Barbary Coast. The ship was badly damaged, and broke apart during the day. Around 220 of the 350 crew managed to reach the shore. These survivors, naked and starving, were made prisoners by the Emperor of Morocco, and kept for a period of eighteen months in semi-slavery. After a tedious negotiation they were at last ransomed by the British government, and arrived at Gibraltar on 27 June 1760.
The account describes the initial voyage from Cork, Ireland, the weather conditions, the intermediate stops and shore leave, but also a detailed account of the deceased.