Letters of Joseph Barr Crispin, H. F. Sampayo and an unidentified British officer to Charles Stuart, Baron de Rothesay, diplomatist.
Scope and Contents
Letters, 1810-1813, to Charles Stuart, Baron de Rothesay, Diplomatist, on military and diplomatic matters.
Three bundles of letters addressed to Baron de Rothesay, whilst minister to Portugal and Brazil at Lisbon during the Peninsular Wars. The first file consists of 48 signed letters of Joze Barr (otherwise Jose Barr or Joseph Barr Crispin), deputy British Consul in the city of Faro. The letters date between May 1810 and August 1813, and subjects include French military movement, battles, local news and news from Cadiz, negotiations, trading and commerce, and dispatches to and from Cadiz.
The second file consists of 32 letters signed by H.F. Sampayo, a Portuguese merchant (H.F. Sampayo is cited on numerous occasions in “The Dispatches of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington”). The letters date between July 1810 and August 1813 and provide insight into the relationship between America and Great Britain. Some of the letters were written during the War of 1812. Subjects discussed include the possible end of the first charter of the Bank of the United States of America, and predicted economic failures in the United States, difficulties in converting bills issued by the Bank of America, imports and exports between Europe and Britain, and America, influential merchants in the city of Alexandria (United States), and American privateers.
The third file consists of 43 letters by an unidentified British officer in Portugal acting as intermediary between Baron de Rothesay and General Sir William Dalrymple, the Duke of Wellington, and Dom Miguel Forjaz, Portuguese General and member of the Regency Council and Secretary of War and Foreign Affairs, amongst others. The letters date between November 1811 and December 1813, and cover a wide range of matters related with the British presence in Portugal. Subjects include the distribution of provisions supplied to the Portuguese government, army supplies, import of barley and grains, import of corn flour from America, Portuguese supply to the British army, grievances between Portuguese and British, and financial matters, including money and supplies issued to the Portuguese government on account of the subsidy.
Dates
- Creation: 1810-1813
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
0.06 Linear metres (3 files)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
1 - Joze Barr
2 - H. T. Sampayo
3 - Unidentified British officer
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Bought, Sandra Antunes, Vilamoura, Portugal.29 June 201513640
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland
- Date
- 29 06 2015
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Descriptive Rules
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk