winter miscellany - Gert Jan Bestebreurtje

ceeded the Dutch in Ceylon in 1796, Captain Robert Percival arrived with the British
forces in 1797 and spent three years in Sri Lanka. He was, as he writes, „induced by
curiosity“ because „the accounts hitherto published of this island had been extremely
imperfect; as the watchful jealousy of the Dutch both excluded the researches of
strangers, and prevented their own people from publishing any observations.. „. He
had a pronounced hatred of the cruelty of Dutch rule. In 1800 he joined General
Macdowal’s embassy to the court of Candy and gives a valuable report of this happening.
In his description of pearl fishery he brings to life the extravaganza, the customs
and superstitions of the fisherman and the dangers of the deep. Among the plates i.a.
a view on the fort of Batacolo, elephant hunting, and the Cinnamon gardens near
Columbo. - A fine copy.
Goonetileke 35a (mentions erroneously 4 instead of 3 charts).
96 PETERSON, A.E. & G.W. EDWARDS. New York as an eighteenth century
municipality. New York, Longmans, Green & Company, 1917. Original cloth with gilt
lettering. With plates. XXVII,199; 259 pp. - (With libr. stamps). € 95,00
THE FIRST BRITISH ATTEMPT TO REACH THE NORTH POLE SINCE 1615
97 PHIPPS, Constantine John. A voyage towards the North Pole undertaken by his
majesty’s command 1773. London, printed by W. Bowyer and J. Nichols for J. Nourse,
1774.
4to. Modern half calf, with red morocco title label to spine. With folding engraved
plan, 2 folding engraved charts, 12 folding or double page engraved views and plates.
VIII,253,(1) pp. € 2.950,00
First edition. - ‘Official account written by Captain Phipps, later Lord Mulgrave. The
expedition of the Racehorse and Carcass, undertaken for the purpose of discovering a
route to India through the northern polar regions, was blocked by pack ice of
Spitsbergen. The valuable appendix gives geographical and meteorological observations,
zoological and botanical records, accounts of the distillation of fresh water from
the sea, and astronomical observations. The voyage is perhaps best remembered for
the presence of young Horatio Nelson, as midshipsman aboard the Carcass, and his
encounter with a polar bear’ (Hill 1351). Phipps’s narrative of his voyage was of considerable
scientific interest and was the beginning of modern efforts to reach the North
Pole. It also made an important addition to the knowledge of the natural productions
of Spitsbergen. - The first British attempt to reach the North Pole since 1615. - (Agebrowned).
- A fine copy.
Sabin 62572; JCB 1966; Chavanne 1944 (other ed.); Cox II, p.19; Stam, Books on ice, p.13.