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R. Brookes and Johannes (John) Prince : 1776 RARE AMERICANA - THE GENERAL GAZETTEER OR COMPENDIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY WITH HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT LOG OF THE REVOLUTIONARY PRIVATEER 'THE PILGRIM' INCLUDING THE SPOILS OF WAR

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Superb find of early Americana on offer: HANDWRITTEN DIARY NOTES ON THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND THE BOOK "THE GENERAL GAZETEER OR, COMPENDIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY" by R. Brookes. Dublin: Printed for J.Williams, 1776.Unpaginated. Original full leather binding with raised spine. This 230 year old book is tight and clean and in a fine state of preservation. This very scarce early book belonged to a sailor aboard the ship Pilgrim who kept a rare hand written account of one of the most successful privateers in the American Revolution. The diary starts July, 1779; "JOHANNES PRINCE Eyus Liber July the 9, 1779." John Prince, of Beverly, Massachusetts, likely an officer aboard the Pilgrim, who, research indicates became a Reverend at the First Church in Salem after the war. It is interesting to note that Prince, as one of the crew of the Pilgrim, was instrumental in founding the Philosophical Library that was the foundation for the Salem Atheneum. The Philosophical Library was founded in 1781 from the spoils of war. The Pilgrim captured the DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, the first of her nine valuable prizes, on September 5 in the Irish Channel. The ship was carrying the library belonging to Richard Kirwin (1733-1812). Kirwin's library was transferred to the Pilgrim and subsequently auctioned off in Salem. The library was purchased by Reverend Joseph Willard of the first Church in Beverly. Eventually the volumes were given to John Prince at the First Church in Salem and later became the beginning of the Salem Atheneum. Prince dates his writings with an inscription "1779" and the narrative covers the inside cover and endpaper of the book proper. Beginning at the top of the inside front cover "Pilgrim sailed April the 13 1779." The Pilgrim has been described as "one of the most famous of the privateers during the American Revolution was the PILGRIM sailing out of Beverly, Massachusetts. This ship-rigged vessel of 200 tons achieved results comparable to those of the LIVERPOOL PACKET, being credited with taking fifty British prizes..."(Howe 1922; 349, 352). This diary appears to cover only the year 1779 listing the prizes taken, and their respective sizes (how many guns and men, etc.) and also a very brief description of the battle (how many killed, how many taken prisoner). Most of this log is legible, however, there are several words that could not be made out. There is more writing on the back side of the endpaper. It starts "THE PIRATE RUNNER SCHOONER PHILANTHROPIST JOHN PRINCE COMMANDER IN PILLOW." Underneath reads "Wrote I expect by Mr. John Crop - mate 1795." A description of what appears to a Paris hospital is also penned. Rear endpapers have writings and notes of a financial nature.. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Full-Leather

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