Quarto bifolium (ca. x cm. or x in). 2 pages of text. Brown ink on yellow wove paper. Blind-stamped papermaker’s monogram in the left upper corner of the first page. Addressed and formerly sealed on verso of the last leaf. Fold marks, a tear where the seal was opened, but overall a very good letter written in a legible hand.

Historically interesting autograph manuscript letter documenting one of the final voyages of the Boston merchant brig "Thomas H. Perkins" to Hawaii.

The author, Samuel Varney (1797-1875), was a sea captain from Salem, Massachusetts, and owner of "Thomas H. Perkins." (see more at Whitehouse, R., Beaudoin, C. Port of Dover. 1988. pp. 93-94) The brig left New York in January 1840, stopped briefly at Staten Island, and potentially took the Cape Horn route to Honolulu. There, Varney engaged in trade with the merchant firm Peirce & Brewer, returning to New York by late April. The brig operated until summer 1841, when it was sold for $9,000 to the U.S. Exploring Expedition and renamed Oregon.

Varney wrote the letter while aboard the brig on 17 January 1840 and datelined it “Thos H. Perkins beating down the bay.” This inscription likely suggests the brig was navigating through Lower New York Bay at the start of its Pacific voyage.

In the letter to his wife, Varney reports on the early days of his trip to Hawaii and briefly describes his recent stop at Staten Island. He complains about a challenging departure from Boston, explaining how he struggled to gather his crew on board and was forced to sleep over at “Mrs. Frye’s.” Varney also shares an unfortunate incident where he lost 2 pigs overboard, watching helplessly as the "poor fellows" drifted away. Near the close, he optimistically talks about the remainder of the journey and proudly confirms that all crew members are sober. In the rest, Varney discusses his debts, urges his wife to write more often, and suggests using “Mr. Frye” as a contact for sending letters. Overall, historically interesting letter with notes about one of the last voyages of “Thomas H. Perkins.”

The text of the letter: “I am at last started for the Sandwich Islands and begin to count the time when I shall start for home again. I could not get my crew on board last night consequently went up to Mrs. Frye’s to sleep and when I came down found all my crew on board, started at about 8 and run down to Staten Island where we came to an anchor in company with the Ohio. Lay there in a calm till 11 o’clock when a light breeze sprung up ahead got under weigh and are now beating down with the prospect of a good breeze  from the S. West after we get down to the Hook which I hope will continue through the voyage. + I consistently hope now it will be performed within the year yet it may be much longer. I want you to write often don’t wait for an opportunity to send direct but send letters to Mr. Frye who will have frequent opportunities to send to Vera Cruz whence they will go to Mazatlan and down to the Islands. I shall feel very anxious till I hear from you how you got home + how your visit to New York affected you. I suppose you are home before this time and I hope you have a pleasant time and found the folks all well. Say all the fine things to them for me kiss all the little ones and tell them to be good children till I come home. Remember me kindly to Mother + thank her for the trouble and care she has had in our absence + don’t forget the dress you owe her remember me also particularly to S. Family tell her I expect to be home as soon as her husband is when I hope we shall have a happy meeting. I think I need not recommend economy to you and need only say that when your friends seen how you must call on Mr. – for more + make your selves as comfortable as possible. I am not aware that I have left any debts to pay more than what you know of and what are accumulating every day for means of subsistence. I cannot promise you any thing about writing further that that I shall write by the first and every opportunity by the way I had forgotten to tell you that I lost 2 of my pigs over board before the steam boat left me. I pitied the poor fellows as I saw them going astern with a prospect of losing their passage and probably their lives to nobody’s benefit. Mr. Frye was on board at the time it was impossible under all circumstances to save them. We are all well on board and the crew all sober and I think we have a prospect of a speedy & pleasant voyage. I can say nothing more but repeat – make yourselves as comfortable and happy as you can ‘till I return when I will add as much to it as I can.”