1840 (8 Jul) on board H.M.S. Samarang The entire letter by William
Armytage on board H.M.S Samarang to Portsmouth, England; unpaid
rated
1840 (8 Jul) on board H.M.S. Samarang The entire letter by William
Armytage on board H.M.S Samarang to Portsmouth, England; unpaid
rated “2/–” in black ink; a postal marking of oval INDIA on the
address panel. On the flap with London arrival c.d.s. (OC 1840).
After the outbreak of First Opium War in Nov 1839, the British
force has actually tken more than six months to ensure adequate
forces from other British bases mainly in Asia Pacific to gather
together. With such background, the writer expressed his doubt and
questions toward the seemingly indecisive military order: “... the
Admiral immediately ordered all the freight to be taken out and
with all speed take in provisions for eight months … … to proceed
direct for China to assist in carrying at the war but yesterday he
annulled the order and we have not the slightest idea what he
intends to do with us …… The Calliope sailed the day before we
arrived from Canton where a strong force are mustering under the
command of Admiral Elliot.” Interestingly, the writer also
criticized Captain Scott (referred to James Scott who was the
Commander of H.M.S Samarang) as a “poor man”. HMS Samarang was a
28-gun, teak, Atholl-class sixth rate of the Royal Navy.
1840年7月8日於H.M.S. Samarang艦上
1840年7月8日於H.M.S. Samarang艦上
威廉·阿米蒂奇於英國皇家海軍”薩瑪朗號”戰艦致英國樸茨茅斯之完整信函。未付郵資標記”2/–”以黑墨書寫，地址欄加蓋橢圓形”INDIA”郵戳，封口處有倫敦到達戳（1840年10月）。
此信反映第一次鴉片戰爭爆發（1839年11月）後，英軍耗時半年調集亞太地區兵力之背景。作者對反覆無常的軍令提出質疑：「...海軍上將突然下令卸載所有貨物，緊急裝載八個月補給...準備直航中國參戰，次日卻撤銷命令，我等完全無法理解其意圖...『卡利歐佩號』於我艦抵達前一日駛離廣州，懿律少將正在該處集結大軍。」值得玩味的是，作者稱艦長詹姆斯·斯科特為「可憐人」。”薩瑪朗號”為皇家海軍28門炮柚木建造的阿索爾級六等艦。
