173 résultats
1937230654New York: Universal Distributors 1937. 16p. 8p. photos staplebound pamphlet blue cover faded around edges chip at lower left corner of front cover. Universal Distributors unknown books
193724455New York: Universal Distributors 1937. 16p. 8p. photos staplebound pamphlet blue cover faded around edges otherwise very good. Universal Distributors unknown books
182121602<p>This fascinating archive consists of 27 manuscript documents in English and one in Spanish from litigation between the Baltimore owners of the merchant ship <i>Budget</i> and insurance companies that underwrote its voyage from England to South America. This conflict occurred against a backdrop of the collapse of Spain's American empire as various areas in Central and South America asserted their independence many under the leadership of Simón BolÃvar. The ship carrying weapons and supplies destined for Simón BolÃvar's rebels was captured by a Spanish privateer and condemned in Puerto Rico. The insurance companies refused to pay on their policies leading to two important cases on maritime law neutral rights and the responsibilities of insurance companies.</p> <b>INSURANCE NEUTRALITY SHIPPING SPANISH EMPIRE.</b>Archive of Evidence in <i>Thompson and Bathurst v. Maryland Insurance Company and Thompson and Bathurst v. Phoenix Fire Insurance Company</i> cases 1821-1824. 28 documents 41 pp. most 7¾ x 9¾ in.<p><b>Historical Background</b></p><p>In October 1822 Baltimore merchants Hugh Thompson and Matthew Bathurst insured their ship <i>Budget</i>and its cargo for $5000 with the Maryland Insurance Company and another $5000 with the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company for a voyage from London England to two ports on the "Spanish Main" Spanish colonies in Central America and on the northern coast of South America then back to the United States. The <i>Budget</i> was transporting "munitions of war" from London to the blockaded port of La Guaira Venezuela on the coast ten miles north of Caracas for Simón BolÃvar's rebels in Spanish America.</p><p>On December 1 1822 the Spanish privateer <i>Cora</i> under the command of Captain Don Juan Esiga captured the <i>Budget</i> and had it condemned as a prize of war at a court in Puerto Rico. <i>The Budget's</i>captain John Meany purchased the ship back billing Thompson and Bathurst for doing so. The merchants applied for payment from their insurers in March 1823. By May Thompson and Bathurst had turned over the <i>Budget</i> and its cargo to the Maryland Insurance Company and demanded payment. The insurers demanded more documentation especially of the condemnation proceedings in Puerto Rico. In August the insurance companies returned the copies of the proceedings in Puerto Rico to the ship's owners "to be translated into English." In March 1824 the insurers denied the claims.</p><p>On March 17 1824 the merchants sued the insurance companies in the Baltimore County Court for having "broken their covenant." Chief Judge Stevenson Archer ruled in favor of Thompson and Bathurst. However both the plaintiffs and the defendant's objected to parts of the decisions and filed cross-appeals to the Court of Appeals of Maryland.</p><p>In December 1832 Judge Thomas Beale Dorsey of Maryland's Court of Appeals concurred with the county court's refusing exceptions presented by the insurance companies and dissented on the exceptions offered by merchants. The Court of Appeals therefore ruled in favor of the ship's owners and entered judgment for "a total loss."</p><p><b>Excerpts:</b></p><p>Insurance Policy No. 8881 with the Maryland Insurance Company October 10 1822:</p><p>"<i>Touching the adventures and perils which we the assurers are contented to bear and take upon us in this voyage; they are of the Seas Men of War Fires Enemies Pirates Rovers Thieves Jettisons Letters of Mart and Counter Mart Surprisals Takings at Sea Arrests Restraints and Detainments of all Kings Princes or People of what Nation Condition or Quality soever Barratry of the Master and Mariners and all other Perils Losses and Misfortunes that have or shall come to the hurt detriment or damage of the said vessel or any part thereof.</i>"</p><p>Translation of Order of Francisco Marcos Santaella December 23 1822:</p><p>"<i>Having seen this summary judgment relating to the capture of the transport corvette called the Budget going from New Orleans under the orders & command of her Capt. & supercargo Mr. John Meany the first of the present month by the Spanish Privateer schooner called the Cora or Good Friends armed in this place and under command of her captain Don Juan Esija; taking into consideration the contents of the ships papers & from others found on board together with the declarations taken or made at the time of capture and those which have been made before this tribunal by the captains captor & captured second mate of the corvette and the prize master all tending to show that that vessel sailed from London on the 11th day of October last with a cargo of munitions of War belonging to particular individuals residing in that capitol who destined it for Caracas to be delivered to Messrs. Jones Pawly Harry and C<u>o</u> in Laguira at that time a port blockaded by the enemy in order that pursuant to the particular intention of M<u>r</u> Zeas the Columbian Squadron sh<u>d</u>be placed upon a respectable footing; and for this purpose was to be fitted out the Brigantine New Orleans & to make a regular deposit of said articles at the s<u>d</u> Laguira for the general use of the service where the s<u>d</u>corvette made efforts to enter the said captain bearing orders in case he found the place actually blockaded to carry her into S<u>t</u> Martha a port also occupied by the Insurgents and comprehended in the same declaration of blockade where she sh<u>d</u> be discharged and the cargo left to the judgment of the said individuals of Caracas; that the same Corvette sh<u>d</u> be offered for the service of s<u>d</u> Squadron whenever it shd be found needful that it shd be particularly recommended for the said Capt Meany to be employed in the marine service; with various other particulars which the said document contained and showing the decided protection which the European English and Anglo Americans afford to the insurgents of the continent contrary to all right and how much more worthy would it have been to have refrained out of respect for a short time.</i>"</p><p>Also the original order in Spanish December 23 1822 with a certification by Judah Lord "<i>Commercial Agent of the United States of America for Port Rico</i>" January 2 1823.</p><p>Thompson and Bathurst to President and Directors of Maryland Insurance Company March 12 1823:</p><p>"<i>Having received advise from Captain Maney that he had purchased the Ship Budget after her having been condemned and drawn on us for amount of Cost & Disbursements; we wish to know if we may calculate on receiving from you the amount insured in your Office at the stipulated time expressed in your Policy; say 90 days from proof of loss</i>"</p><p>Thompson and Bathurst to President and Directors of Maryland Insurance Company May 7 1823:</p><p>"<i>We abandoned to you on the 6<u>th</u> February last the Ship & Freight of Ship Budget insured in your Office by Policy N<u>o</u>8881 and at same time handed you a Certified Copy of the Condemnation of said Ship at Porto Rico. The Period of time required by your Policy for payment of Loss after proof thereof having now expired we beg leave to call upon you for the amount thereof.</i>"</p><p>President John Hollins of Maryland Insurance Company to Thompson and Bathurst May 24 1823:</p><p>"<i>Your letter of the 21st Inst has had the attention of a full board of Directors who have instructed me to inform you that they will advance to you $4498.75 on receipt of your & R. Oliver Esqrs joint note at six months bearing interest at the expiration of which time or sooner if convenient you are required to produce to this Company the following documents relative to the Ship Budget Viz The proceedings of the Court at Porto Rico The Log book or authenticated copy thereof The Charter Party or copy authenticated upon receipt of which & their proving satisfactory an adjustm<u>t</u> of the loss shall take place.</i>"</p><p>President John Hollins of Maryland Insurance Company to Thompson and Bathurst March 4 1824:</p><p>"<i>The board of Directors have instructed me to inform you that they do not consider the Company answerable for the claim you make for the ship Budget & freight insured by policy No 8881 this opinion they have formed from advice given by Mr Wirt & Mr Purviance who have had the case under their consideration.</i></p><p>"<i>I am also instructed to say to you that if your note in favor of Messs Rob. & Jno Oliver & by them endorsed for $4498.75 with interest & cost of protest be not taken up & paid at the Bank of Baltimore where it now lays on or before the 10th Inst it will be handed to Mr Purviance to be put in suit against you & those Gentlemen we hope you will prevent this unpleasant business but if not you will know the blame will not be chargeable to this Company.</i>"</p><p>Thompson and Bathurst to President and Directors of Maryland Insurance Company March 9 1824:</p><p>"<i>we are sorry to learn you still seem determined not to admit your liability for the Loss on the Ship Budget condemned at Porto Rico.</i>"</p><p>"<i>We had hoped that the very clear and decided opinions handed you of Mess<u>rs</u>Ogden & Binney Lawyers considered as the best informed in this Country on Marine Insurance would have removed all doubts & have been conclusive on that subject.</i>"</p><p>"<i>It is extremely unpleasant to us being under the necessity of resisting the payment of our Note which our Counsel have advised us to do; at same time we feel confident the result will prove we are in the right & justifiable in doing so.</i>"</p><p><b>Matthew Bathurst</b> 1778-1847 and <b>Hugh Thompson</b> 1760-1826 were partners in a general mercantile business in Baltimore Maryland.</p><p><b>John Meany</b> 1770-1841 was a sea captain in the merchant service and then a merchant and ship-owner in Philadelphia. For many years Hugh Thompson employed him.</p><p><b>John Hollins</b> 1760-1827 was a banker in Liverpool before immigrating to Baltimore where he became a successful merchant. He was president of the Maryland Insurance Company from 1802 to 1827 and he held a variety of local offices.</p><p><b>Simón BolÃvar</b> 1783-1830 was born in Caracas and educated in Spain and France. He joined the group of patriots that seized Caracas in 1810 and proclaimed independence from Spain. He went to Great Britain in search of aid but could get only a promise of British neutrality. When he returned to Venezuela and took command of a patriot army he recaptured Caracas in 1813 from the Spaniards. The Spaniards forced BolÃvar to retreat from Venezuela to New Granada now Colombia also at war with Spain. He took command of a Colombian force and captured Bogota in 1814. The patriots however lacked men and supplies and new defeats led BolÃvar to flee to Jamaica. In Haiti he gathered a force that landed in Venezuela in 1816 and took Angostura now Ciudad BolÃvar. He also became dictator there. BolÃvar marched into New Granada in 1819. His forces decisively defeated the Spaniards at Boyacá in 1819 liberating the territory of Colombia. He then returned to Angostura and led the congress that organized the original republic of Colombia now Ecuador Colombia Panama and Venezuela. BolÃvar became its first president on December 17 1819. BolÃvar crushed the Spanish army at Carabobo in Venezuela on June 24 1821. Next he marched into Ecuador and added that territory to the new Colombian republic. After meeting with another great liberator José de San Martin in 1822 BolÃvar became dictator of Peru in February 1824. His army won a victory over the Spaniards at Ayacucho in December 1824. Upper Peru became a separate state named Bolivia in BolÃvar's honor in 1825. He stepped down as president of Gran Colombia in January 1830 and died of tuberculosis eleven months later.</p> books
1997117579New York: HarperCollins 1997. Hardcover. 181p. very good first edition in boards and unclipped dj. The Cuban-born writer resides in Puerto Rico. HarperCollins hardcover books
1979WRCLIT74658Amsterdam: Galerie Da Costa 1979. Suite of 8 original color etchings incorporating text plus title leaf and justification. Oblong quarto 25 x 32.5 cm. Laid into printed wrappers with pictorial vignette the whole laid into a pictorial cloth folder with linen strapping. Fine. First edition. One of fifty numbered copies signed by the artist in addition to six copies hors commerce and the prototype set of the etchings. The eight etchings collectively present the late artist's self-portrait with the comment: "Of course this book if you are willing to forget what a book looks like is that kind of exhibitionism Andre Breton should have called 'un livre à la porte battante'." Galerie Da Costa hardcover books
1968100334NY: Random House 1968. First edition first prnt. Photographs by Robert Vavra. Inscribed by Michener on the front free endpage to Random House editior Bert Krantz. "Random House 1968 To Bert Kranz Who helped so much to put this beautiful book together even though she was damn near dead at the time. Affectionately Jim Michener." Tiny tear at spine top edge very light shelfwear; dustjacket with minimal edgewear mostly at the spine top edge. Near Fine condition in a Near Fine dustjacket with an archival cover. A bright association copy and unique with Michener's sentiments to editor Krantz. Inscribed by Author. First Edition. Hardcovers. Near Fine/Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Association Copy. Random House Hardcover books
193735126Barcelona: Comité Regional en Cataluña de los Industrias de la Edificación Madera y Decoración C.N.T - A.I.T. 1937. First Edition. Large folio 49cm. Staple-bound pictorial paper wrappers; 23pp; illus. Horizontal fold; partial perforation at bound edge; creasing to corners with marginal soil to wrappers and a few chips to contents; a sound Good or better example. The unlikeliest of publishing endeavors during the depredations of wartime: an avant-garde large-format lavishly illustrated journal of architecture and decorative arts issued no less under the auspices of an anarchist workers federation. The editors intended to usher in a new era of progressivism and modernism following the defeat of the fascist rebels in the July Barcelona uprising of 1936 ".aquel magnifico y revolucionario 19 de julio tan digno y decisivo; no solo como fin de etapa sino tambien como prologo de una etapa nueva repleta de posibilidades consequidas ya en parte ye en parte perfiladas no siempre malogradas." and the magazine fashioned itself upon the model of such avant-garde revolutionary journals as the Soviet Union's USSR in Construction and the American Labor Defender with bold photo-montage layouts and modernist typography. The timing was not propitious. By December 1937 the Republic was mired in an increasingly hopeless civil war and the glorious New Era that had seemed so certain in July of 1936 was now a rapidly fading hope. The magazine appears to have lasted for only a single issue before folding; today it is extremely rare with no examples in North America and only two physical locations noted in European institutions via COPAC and OCLC Biblioteca Nacional and Bibliotheque Nanterre. BNE attributes editorship to the avant-garde graphic artist DarÃo Carmona de la Puente but this information does not appear to derive from the publication itself which makes no editorial attribution. Comité Regional en Cataluña de los Industrias de la Edificación Madera y Decoración, C.N.T - A.I.T. unknown books
197354032Washington: the Committee 1973. 20 issues of the newsletter each 4p. 8.5x11 inches wraps. Originally titled simply "News" An incomplete run missing February and March 1973 issued sometimes monthly sometimes twice monthly which was frequently misnumbered but not misdated. the Committee unknown books
18504251850. 8vo. 215 x 160 mm. 8 ½ x 6 ¼ inches. 306 leaves chapters separated by blanks. 19th century leather backed marbled paper boards; inner hinge cracked edges bumped some abrasion to the head of the spine; sound. Beautifully written manuscript volume containing an extensive discussion of library management and practices written by an anonymous Spanish author in the middle of the 19th century. This dissertation organized in 70 chapters begins with a discussion of the library profession and its importance to civil society. His first chapters describe the "Archive" with reference to Spanish monastic governmental and diplomatic collections that have been preserved. He focuses his attention on Aragon Mallorca Navarra and Santiago. He turns to France to furnish some interested information on the archives in Paris before getting into the chapters on classification of materials and the creation of inventories. After nearly 200 leaves of text on the subject of archives the authors turns his attention to libraries. From the beginning he takes a historical approach focusing his attention on both books and manuscripts mentioning the collections at Cambridge University. Paleography is a subject he spends some time describing and then he moves into the history of printing typography Gutenberg and the spread of printing to Spain. The final dozen chapters are devoted to the rules for managing a library lessons in classification and inventory control. He quotes from both DeBure and Brunet in his lessons on cataloguing. A rather remarkable piece of work thought to be unpublished. An examination of both United States and Spanish national collections turned up no reference to this anonymous piece of library scholarship. unknown books
19423248Salt Lake City: Pioneer Music Press 1942. First Edition. iv252 nos.iv Octavo 21 cm Burgundy grained buckram with the title gilt on the front board and backstrip. Gilt stamped image of the Salt Lake Temple on the front board. Very good. Gentle rubbing to the corners of the boards. Minor wear to front pastedown and name stamped neatly on the front free pastedown. This represents the first printing of the Spanish hymnal with music which has been used up to the present as the format for all subsequent edition. Jacob 812H. Pioneer Music Press unknown books
198466619New York: Farrar Straus Giroux 1984. Hardcover. 250p. very good first US edition in quarter-cloth boards and unclipped dj with one flap creased. Autobiographical novel by the Cuban American poet on the chilling fate of intellectuals and artists in Cuba. Farrar Straus Giroux hardcover books
57306Se vend à Augsbourg au Negoce comun de l'Acadamie Imperiale d'Empire des Arts libereaux avec Privilege de Sa Majesté Imperiale et avec Defense ni d'en faire ni de vendre les Copies Second half of the 18th C. 12 x 16 inches. Bordered by green paper. Edges rubbed small area of wrinkling else Fine. 12 x 16 inches. Se vend à Augsbourg au Negoce comun de l'Acadamie Imperiale d'Empire des Arts libereaux avec Privilege de Sa Majesté Imperiale unknown books
199570852Payson UT: Tree of Light Institute 1995. 22p. 5.5x8.5 inches text in Spanish introduction very good pamphlet in stapled green pictorial wraps. Horne's guide to herbal remedies translated to Spanish. Tree of Light Institute unknown books
1984136026New York: The Spanish Institute 1984. Softcover. VG- Ex-library with label and possible markings. Gray and illus. wraps 80 pp. BW illus. Issued in conjunction with an exhbition of Francisco Goya y Lucientes 1746-1828 with work that "eloquently reflects the humanistic philosophy of the artist and the dedication of his great talent to the enlightenment of mankind." Intro Includes articles by Angier Biddle Duke Arthur Ross Janis A. Tomlinson and Barbara Rose. The Spanish Institute unknown books
19711311959Barcelona: Ediciones Poligrafa S.A. 1971. First Edition. Hardcover. Large Octavo; G/Fair; ivory spines with black text; 4 volumes; dust jackets show some foxing toward exterior edges and spines; foxing to flaps; tape mend to head spine edge of vol. 1; chipping to spine head edge of mylar; mylar wraps; cloths have slight sunning to exterior; slight wear to edges; strong boards; text block has foxing to exterior edges; foxing to first and last few pages of all volumes; pictorial endpapers; profusely illustrated; light toning to interiors; arts - Spanish; additional shipping may be necessary due to size/weight restrictions for international/expedited orders.; Shelved above China. 1311959. Shelved Dupont Bookstore. Ediciones Poligrafa, S.A. hardcover books
199897251San Francisco: City Lights Books 1998. Paperback. 105p. translator's notes very good first US edition trade paperback in pictorial wraps. Six stories by the gay Cuban writer. City Lights Books paperback books
193850549New York: Medical Bureau and North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy 1938. 12mo. Staple-bound pamphlet; printed paper wrappers; 13pp. Slight foxing and toning to wrappers; pencil annotation to front cover; text complete and sound - Very Good. Statement of support by the American Scottish Rite Freemasons for the Nye Resolution calling for a lifting of the embargo against Republican Spain. Signed in print at end of text by John H. Cowles Grand Commander; Walter Reed Secretary General; TJ. Wakeman Secretary and others. Uncommon. Medical Bureau and North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy unknown books
193726237Valencia: CNT 1937. 49 tabloid issues ca.48cm with publication seqence as follows: Año II Nos. 219 224-225 227-228 233-234 241-243 245 327-329 331-332 334-340 342 347-349 351-352 356 358-363 365-378. Printed offset on newsprint ca.8pp per issue; illus. Issues show light overall wear and toning creases and small tears with underlining and marginalia in red and blue colored-pencil to most issues; overall Very Good. Substantial run of this Spanish Civil War newspaper the official organ of the anarcho-syndicalist group Confederación Nacional del Trabajo. Published in Valencia between 1936-1939 the paper provided daily coverage of the Republican struggle with articles by Jesus Muro Felix Paredes Enrique Lopez Alarcon Gaston Leval and Juan Lopez et al. Illustrated with political cartoons and caricatures throughout. Large runs extremely uncommon in the trade; OCLC shows just 5 American institutions holding any issues. [CNT] unknown books
1898List319Massachusetts 1898. The 2nd Massachusetts Volunteers mustered into service in May 1898 and within a month saw significant action in Cuba at the Battle of El Caney. They were one of three volunteer units from Massachusetts to see action on the Santiago Campaign. The regiment was inexperienced - 55% were untrained recruits. The lack of experience combined with their rifles giving off a very visible black smoke led to a heavy casualties in the Battle of El Caney. After an encampment near Santiago de Cuba in which a large number of the soldiers became ill with disease - estimates are as high as 65% - the regiment returned home in August. Historians have noted that soldier demographics changed considerably from the Civil War to the Spanish American war as the smaller number of troops and the lack of a draft led to a more enthusiastic army with higher morale. <br /> <br /> The photographs in this group are interesting as a typological grouping of images of untrained soldiers and also for their historical value as most contain identifications to versos. The highlight of the group is forty-four uniformly mounted portraits of soldiers nearly all identified measuring 3 ¾ x 2 ½ inches each. Other photographs include a large portrait of Captain Frederick E. Pierce with the blindstamp of Goldsmith Studio Springfield Massachusetts and a 3 ¼ x 3 ¼ inch square card of Capt. Pierce in Camp Turner. Also included are two slightly larger photographs on similar mounts. <br /> <br /> Overall an interesting group. Good condition overall with assorted chips and wear. unknown books
169719796London: Printed for R. Sare F. Saunders and Tho. Bennet 1697 1697. First edition in English. ESTC R5377; Wing Q188. Binding particularly the spine rubbed; text fine. 8vo contemporary mottled calf gilt decorated and lettered spine. ¶ The first English translation of Francisco de Quevedo's La Hora de Todos y la Fortuna con Seso a biting satire of Spanish politics and the follies of the times written under the guise of a prose fantasy. Ouevedo 1580-1645 a contemporary and friend of Cervantes was one of the greatest writers of his era in Spanish literature. The translator Capt. John Stevens was a prolific translator of Spanish literature and author on Spanish subjects. <br/><br/> London: Printed for R. Sare, F. Saunders and Tho. Bennet, 1697 unknown books
189840039Mexico Mo: Head Bros 1898. 1st printing. White paper wrappers printed in red & blue stapled. Age toning to paper. Staples a bit rusted. A VG copy. Unpaginated though 40 pp. Roster last 4 pages. Profusely illustrated with 65 b&w captioned photographic images. Oblong format: 5-7/8" x 9-1/4" <br/><br/>From the rear cover: "To the Officers and Members of this Regiment. . this book is presented to you as a souvenir of your camp life in the Spanish-American War. The idea is to show by photographs a practical army life ." Head Bros unknown books
197546426Irvine CA: University of California 1975. 12mo pp. 178. Paper wraps. Cover little soiled o/w a VG tight copy. Short stories and poetry by people of Mexican descent; one section for residents of Southern California and a second for high school students. University of California unknown books
200231669Westport: Greenwood Press. As New. 2002. Hardcover. 0313293465 . Complete in two volumes. First printing. Both volumes are as new in glossy illustrated boards. No dust jackets as issued. . Greenwood Press hardcover books
1879WRCLIT82812Madrid: Libreria de Cuesta 1879. 775pp. Large octavo. Printed wrappers extracted from pamphlet volume. Tables and illustrations. French bookseller's ticket on front wrapper spine covering absent but a very good copy. First edition published in the series "MonografÃas Industriales." OCLC/Worldcat locates two copies in North America: Sutro Library and Yale. OCLC: 42946953. Libreria de Cuesta unknown books
1713WRCAM53351Minorca Spain 1713. 690pp. Thick quarto. Later three-quarter calf and marbled boards. Moderate wear to edges and spine extremities boards rubbed corners bumped. Small later ownership inscription on front pastedown. Light foxing and tanning marginal dust soiling. Composed in a neat legible hand. Very good. Untrimmed. A lengthy and highly detailed manuscript volume containing documents related to the British takeover of Minorca after its capture from Spain during the War of Spanish Succession and an investigation into the governance of the island. In September 1708 British forces occupied the Mediterranean island with little opposition the inhabitants and nobles having mostly supported the Anglo-Dutch designs for the Spanish throne. The inherent importance of the island as a military outpost and trading way point in the Mediterranean led the British to occupy it for the rest of the war and to receive it as a possession in the Treaty of Utrecht which ended the conflict in 1713. <br> <br> The documents collected here relate to the English Brigadier Lewis Petit who served as Lieutenant Governor and Chief Engineer of the island during its occupation. As Chief Engineer Petit was in charge of improving the fortifications and defenses of Minorca and although a Spanish ally was named as titular Governor Petit exercised the true authority over the island. Although his improvement plans may have been sound his management of the island's public moneys was suspect. <br> <br> "Petit somehow found time to enter into commercial speculations on his own account. In partnership with two Spaniards and Stanhope's secretary Arent Furley Petit purchased a French prize at Mahón for 7800 dollars with which to trade between Minorca Majorca Sardinia and the Spanish and Barbary coasts. He advised Furley that he had found it necessary to use funds supplied for the fortifications to complete the purchase and urgently requested capital from his partners to repay this misappropriation. Petit's participation was valuable to the enterprise owing to his ability to land cargoes at Mahón without paying duty an activity much objected to by the local town government. <br> <br> "Petit was soon to find himself under the scrutiny of the inspectors sent from London to investigate irregularities in the expenditure of the army in Spain as an attempt to disgrace the previous ministry.The accusations against him concerned imperfections in his accounts including allegations of missing vouchers irregularities and overcharging in the numbers of workmen and mules and alleged differences between prices contracted and prices paid among other charges" - DNB. <br> <br> The documents compiled here therefore relate principally to the investigation of those actions by a specially convened Board of Commissioners and contain Petit's written responses to specific inquiries about his expenditures. In transmitting these answers the reports provide a detailed perspective regarding the management of Minorca's finances defenses and engineering improvements under Petit's charge. Moreover in order to buttress or to undermine those claims voluminous correspondence financial figures construction reports testimonies affidavits and other material are reproduced that span the length of the British occupation of the island before it officially became a possession. As a result the manuscript documents contained here provide a thorough encapsulation of the economic and military situation on Minorca and the growth of its importance as a British outpost in the Mediterranean. <br> <br> A highly valuable set of manuscript documents that meticulously details the development and management of a British possession gained through the War of Spanish Succession worthy of much deeper research. Paul Latcham "Petit Lewis 1665-1720" in OXFORD DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY Oxford University Press 2004 http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/22038. hardcover books
