"THE CAPTAIN HAS APPROVED HIMSELF THE GREATEST ENEMY I HAVE IN THE WORLD": RARE 1747 FIRST EDITION OF ALEXANDER CAMPBELL'S SUPPRESSED ACCOUNT OF THE 1741 WAGER SHIPWRECK IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, A DISASTER VERY FEW SURVIVED
CAMPBELL, Alexander. The Sequel to Bulkeley and Cummins's Voyage to the South-Seas: or, the Adventures of Capt. Cheap, the Hon. Mr. Byron, Lieut. Hamilton, Alexander Campbell, and others, late of his Majesty's Ship the Wager, which was wreck'd on a desolate Island. London: Printed for the Author, and sold by W. Owen, 1747. Octavo, 20th-century three-quarter tan calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers; pp. [1], iv, iii-viii, 108.
Rare first edition of Campbell's account of the survival of the crew of the privateer ship Wager after being shipwrecked off the coast of Chile in 1741, a "counterblast" to the account published in 1743 by Bulkeley and Cummins, this edition "recalled soon after it was published and suppressed, so that few copies are to be found."
"The Wager was a ship in Commodore Anson's fleet which was proceeding up the west coast of South America to harass the Spanish possessions. The ship ran aground on a small island in the Northwest part of the Gulf de la Penas, and broke up. The distresses endured caused the crew to divide, some electing to stay with Captain Cheap—who by the way was about as amiable a character as Lieut. Bligh of the Bounty fame—and the others to take the long boats and make their way back to the east coast. Bulkeley and Cummins were of the latter group. The navigation of the perilous seas, amid vast swarms of unknown islands and channels along the west coast of Patagonia or Chile is as marvelous as the men's capacity to endure cold, wet, and hunger" (Cox). Bulkeley and Cummins published their account of their hazardous journey in 1743. This Sequel is Alexander Campbell's account of those who stayed with Captain Cheap, of whom only four survived: Campbell, Marine Lieutenant Hamilton, Midshipman John Byron, and Captain David Cheap. "The present work is a counterblast to the account published by Bulkeley and Cummins. Fourteen of the crew, including Campbell and John Byron, elected to stay with Captain David Cheap. They made their way north along the coast of Chile and were aided by the native Indians until the Spanish discovered and captured them. They finally returned to England in 1746. This work was recalled soon after it was published and suppressed, so that few copies are to be found" (Hill). Hill 243. Sabin 10205. See Cox II, 270, for Bulkeley and Cummins' 1743 account. Bookplate.
Text clean, joints and spine ends expertly repaired. An exceptionally good, desirable copy of this rare account.