Primary Sources Archive

Eyewitness Account of the Siege of Gibralter (Never Before Published)

The following is a newly translated and never before published (in English and/or in the last century, anyway) set of letters describing the Siege of Gibralter from the Devon Records Office. Very exciting Ref No: 346M/F/160 – 1782 – ‘Noticias de Europa y America’, manuscript book in Spanish describing the siege of Gibraltar Letter written in [...]
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Eyewitness Accounts of the Hamilton/Burr Duel

Throughout the course of our beloved series, Stephen fights several duels and almost fights several more. He is by no means abnormal for his time; gentlemen of his era often felt the only way to defend their honor was to shoot someone over it. One of the most famous historical duels was that between Alexander [...]
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The 1778 Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen and its Present-Day Implications

This article is somewhat different from what is usually posted here. It’s a political piece discussing current events, but it definitely relates back to our era and our areas of focus. Full disclosure: I’m of a liberal bent, and I think the following article makes a lot of sense. But I’m not posting it to [...]
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Suggested Reading: Aubrey/Maturin Companion Books

Obviously, the world Patrick O’Brian brings so vividly to life in our beloved series is complex and foreign to most readers. There is certainly no shortage of information about the time period and the novels themselves online (including over 250 articles on this site alone), but there are also many excellent companion books available. Your [...]
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A Few Notes on Timber for Shipbuilding

Jack [surveyed] the harbour as a naval base - a fine roomy naval base, with fresh water just at hand, deep-water repairing docks, and any amount of timber, capital Valona oak. – The Ionian Mission by Patrick O’Brian It seems fairly obvious to say that ships in Jack and Stephen’s day were made out of wood… Of [...]
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Nelson’s Account of the Battle of Copenhagen 04.02.1801

The Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801: Vice Admiral Lord Nelson’s official report to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. Elephant, off Copenhagen, 3rd April 1801. Sir, In obedience to your directions to report the proceedings of the Squadron which you did em the honour to place under my command, I beg leave to inform you that [...]
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Nelson’s Letters to the Crown Prince of Denmark

After three hours of intense fighting at the Battle of Copenhagen, Danish resistance began to slacken. By half past two, most of the fighting had stopped, but there was still some intermittent resistance. Unwilling to inflict unnecessary destruction on the danes, he had the following note sent to Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark with the [...]
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The Adventures of James Buckingham 2/2: Captivity

When we last left our hero, 13 year-old James Silk Buckingham, he was being transported from the French corvette that had captured his packet ship to the Spanish city of Corunna, where he was to be imprisoned. What dire fate is in store for our young hero?! Read on… Autobiography of James Silk Buckingham Chapter [...]
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The Adventures of James Buckingham 1/2: Capture

James Silk Buckingham (1786 – 1855) was an English author and traveler who went to sea when he was barely ten years old. He spent his early sea-going years aboard the packet ship Lady Harriet, and had as many adventures as any ten year old boy might wish for. One of those adventures included the [...]
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Napoleon and the Jews

While Mr. Canning is the only Jewish character of any importance in the Aubrey/Maturin series (I think, correct me if I’m wrong), the history of Jews during the Napoleonic era is fascinating because it shows perfectly the contradictions in Napoleon’s character. On the one hand, he was as Stephen would say a tyrant, a despot, [...]
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