Call Number:

Ms. Codex 1739

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

1 volume

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company letter book, 1864-1865, Ms. Codex 1739, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1864-1865 (inclusive)

Creator:

Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company

Form:

Letter books, Codices (bound manuscripts), Manuscripts, English -- 19th century, and Correspondence

Abstract:

Oversized volume containing copies of the outgoing correspondence from the commerical shipping company, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O Company). The letters provide a record of the day-to-day operations of the company from 1864 to 1865.

Ruled, oversized volume containing copies of the outgoing correspondence from the commercial shipping company, Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O Company). The volume has a detailed index followed by 371 pages of copied letters. Spanning a little over one year, from January 1864 to February 1865, the letters provide a record of the day-to-day operations of the company. At the beginning of the volume is an alphabetical index with thumb tabs from a to z in red and black ink listing names, cargo, cities, and ships, followed by the corresponding page numbers. The spine of the volume reads "India and China letter book, 19, from 2nd Jan. 1864 to 9th Feb. 1865." Each page has a narrow column on the left-hand side with notes concerning the subject of each letter. The communications vary in length with some letters spanning more than one page and comprising several topics. The outgoing correspondence was written from the company's London offices on behalf of the managing directors by several secretaries including: John Ritchie, James Allan, J. A. Olding, H. Bayley, and C. W. Howell. Many letters are addressed to the company's agents stationed at major seaports in the East. Some of the port cities include Aden, Bombay, Calcutta, Hong Kong, Madras, Point de Galle, and Shanghai among others. There are also ports mentioned in Australia, China, Egypt, and Japan. Additionally, there are many letters addressed to captains, officers, and crew discussing the ships, maintenance, cargo, pay, and discipline. There are letters to passengers discussing fares, routes, baggage, and packages. Incidents at sea involving ships and diplomacy are also recorded in the letters. A majority of the ships departed from the port of Southampton, England. In addition to trade and purchase of silks and spices, the P&O Company, shipped cargo, delivered mail packets, and carried passengers. The end of the last letter in the volume is written on the inside back cover.