[Nautica] Beaching and sale of the ship Neptune from Yarmouth 1814

Two bifolia with handwritten text, one in French and dated 15 October 1814 (two written p., with tax (blind) stamps and two signatures), the other in English and registered (in French) 17 November 1814 (three written p., with tax (blind) stamps and wax seal), 30 x 21 and 33.5 x 21 cm. (minimal defects, in very good condition).

Both documents concern the legal settlement of the beaching and sale of the English ship Neptune near Calais. Interesting combination of manuscripts with the French and the English point of view regarding the accident. The ship, captained by Benjamin Passon, was en route from Liverpool to Ostend carrying a load of salt. The French document (a sort of official account) is signed by François Lazare Guy de Saint Hélène "Commissaire de la marine au port et quartier de Calais". The English document is from the ship's owner Timothy Stewart from Great Yarmouth with the intention to appoint a lawyer in Calais to organise the sale of the ship "either by public auction or private contract as my said attorney may think proper." However, no name has been written in the intended place. After having been drafted, both documents have been provided with a short confirmation of registration in French in the same hand, dated 7 November (the French document) and 17 November 1814.