Autograph letter signed : Lisbon, to the Commander-in-Chief, 1800 Nov. 23.

Record ID: 
104476
Accession number: 
MA 1266.42
Author: 
Keith, Alexander, active 1800.
Credit: 
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1899.
Description: 
1 item (1 p.) ; 25.1 cm
Notes: 

The Commander in Chief of the British Army was Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany (1763-1827).
The letter is written from " Lisbon Bulnois Caldada de Estrella."
Volume 9 (MA 1266) of a 33-volume collection of the correspondence of Sir James Pulteney, his family and distinguished contemporaries. (MA 487, MA 297 and MA 1260-1290). The arrangement of the collection is alphabetical by the author of the letter. Items in the collection have been described individually in separate catalog records; see collection level record for more information (MA 1266.1-61).

Summary: 

Concerning Portuguese cooking pots; saying that the pots they have now "are so Small as to prevent the Soldiers of a Reg't from dining at the same Hour, and the Officers from inspecting their Messes in a regular manner. They are the Pots intended by the Portuguese for their army when in the Field & do not contain above Six or Seven Quarts;" suggesting that "Three Cooking Pots p'r Company to Hold Two Almudes or Thirty Six Quarts Each and provided it will answer every purpose, & will be the best way to remedy the existing Evil."

Provenance: 
Purchased from the Ford Collection of manuscripts.