[Rarebooks] fa: REPORT OF THE TRIAL OF COMMODORE DAVID PORTER, U.S. NAVY 1825 - SCARCE

[Ardwight Chamberlain]

Listed now, along with other Naval Americana, auctions ending Sunday, January 27. More details and images can be found at the URL below or by searching under the seller name arch_in_la.

http://tinyurl.com/adtanff

Thanks again,
Ardwight Chamberlain
L.A.

Report of the Trial of Commodore David Porter, of the Navy of the United States, before a General Court Martial held at Washington in July, 1825. By Robert Beale, Attorney-at-Law… To which is added a Review of the Court's Decision. Washington City: [n.p.], 1825. FIRST EDITION. Nineteenth-century half morocco over marbled boards; 8vo (22 cm); viii + 244 + 68 pp. Sabin 64222.

David Porter (1780-1843) first distinguished himself in the War of 1812 when, as commander of the USS Essex he scored America's first naval triumph by capturing the British warship Alert. From 1823-25 he commanded an expedition to suppress piracy in the West Indies. While there, he invaded the town of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, a Spanish colony, raising the ire of both the American and Spanish governments. Upon his return to America, Porter was court-martialed for "disobedience of orders and conduct unbecoming an officer." Resigning his commission, Porter became commander in chief of the Mexican Navy. Rubbing and light wear to the edges of the boards, two chips from the spine leather, joints cracked but secure; browning and scattered foxing to the leaves as is typical of most early American imprints. A scarce title: WorldCat locates no copies of the book at any library or institution.