項次 1742

1859 (27 May) Cover from Britain to British Navy HMS Camilla/Retribution at China Seas 27 May 1859, cover from Curzon-St, Britain to naval officer Albert Markham at China station who was originally on HMS Camilla, then probably change to onboarding HMS Retribution, matching with pencil mark of [HMS] Retribution. From March 1858, HMS Camilla stationed in Canton River until Feb 1859 when she sailed to Hong Kong. Markham changed to serve HMS Retribution at the time. Markham eventually rose to the rank of admiral at navy force. HMS Camilla was a 16-gun sloop launched in 1847. In Feb 1857 shortly after the outbreak of the Second Opium War, HMS Camilla was sent to China Station staying at various key treaty ports including Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Shanghai and Hong Kong to support British naval military actions until mid 1860. Thereafter, she was assigned to Japan but was lost in a typhoon in 1861. HMS Retribution, 10-gun frigate, East India Station (Shanghai), was involved with the Tai-Ping Rebels up the Yang-tse-kiang River. Route: From Curzon-St via London and Marseilles to naval warships of HMS Retribution which was stationed at China seas at the time. Rate: QV 1 penny, 2 pence and 6 pence each, canceled by London cds (27 MY 59) Marking: Curzon-St despatch cds, London transit cds (27 MY 59)

1859年5月27日 英國信封寄往駐中國艦隊 — HMS Camilla / Retribution 寄至皇家海軍軍官 Albert Markham，正值第二次鴉片戰爭中期艦隊調動關鍵時段。本封信於1859年5月27日自英國 Curzon-St. 寄出，收件人為皇家海軍軍官 Albert Hastings Markham，信件原寄至HMS Camilla，信封上後來以鉛筆加註「(HMS) Retribution」，顯示Markham或已轉調至HMS Retribution，符合1859年初Camilla返港後的人事調動。 軍事背景與艦隊部署：(1) HMS Camilla 1847年下水之16門火炮戰艦，自1857年起即駐守中國水域，支援第二次鴉片戰爭中的軍事行動，足跡遍及廣州、廈門、福州、上海與香港。1860年後調往日本，並於1861年在颱風中失事沉沒。(2) HMS Retribution 10門火炮的蒸汽動力軍艦，隸屬於東印度艦隊（駐上海），參與太平天國內戰期間沿長江上游巡防與干預行動。 歷史意義：此信為寄往英國皇家海軍駐中國艦隊軍官的實寄封，反映戰爭時期海軍人員調動與艦隊部署實況。軍官 Markham 日後晉升為英國皇家海軍上將，其在鴉片戰爭與東亞地區的經歷意義重大。