Beschreibung:

GRIFFITH, John (1713-1776). Autograph manuscript diary of his voyages to and from America, his capture at sea by a French privateer, and his Quaker ministry in Britain, 1747-1750, approximately 110 pages, 8vo (150 x 110mm.), contemporary limp vellum wrappers (loose and worn, the first leaf of the manuscript inscribed 'Jn o Gr...' and partly cut away). Griffith, a New England Quaker, records a wide variety of experiences from his departure from Pennsylvania in November, 1747 including an unpleasant adventure at the end of December, the interception of the ship 'Widow' by a privateer of Bayonne 'mounting 10 carage (sic) guns and about 90 or 100 men ....six of us earnestly desiring to stay on board the prize it was after some time granted us which we esteemed a singular favour'. Landing at last at San Sebastian, he gives his impressions of the countryside and towns and of the people in France 'who as far as I have observed are generally very civel and complydant in their outward appearance but in my opinion very much as the common notion of Jews in their dealing'. He enlivens his narrative with comments on local superstitions, the vigil over a dead nun, the 'singular' dresses of the friars and other curious practices. Reaching London, he travels to many Quaker meetings in England, Wales and Ireland, reckoning by January 1750 to have attended 285 meetings, travelled about 2483 miles by sea and in France over '36000' /i.e. 3600 miles/, 'Tottall 6083 miles after landing from Ireland'. He returned to Pennsylvania in July 1750, resuming the diary in the form of a log for the voyages there and back to England in October that year. The manuscript also includes a few pages of memoranda on miscellaneous subjects. John Griffith had emigrated to America from Radnorshire in 1727 but after 1750 settled in England again. His autobiography, published in 1774, draws upon the present manuscript for much of its information, having as he puts it 'passed through many afflictions and grievous perils both by sea and land'.