Beschreibung:

Two autograph letters signed by Norris to Jonathan Dickinson, concerning the capture of pirates, including Captain Kidd, and supposed buried treasure.
Philadelphia: v.d. [9 June and 21 July 1699]. Each 1 p., the first on a single sheet, the second on a folded sheet with integral blank (each approx. 310 x 200 mm). Address panels and docketing on verso. Condition : old folds, minor separations. pirates in jail in philadelphia, buried treasure along the atlantic seaboard, and the capture of captain kidd. The letters comprise: 9 June 1699: "…We have four men in prison taken up as pirates supposed to be Kidds men. Shelly of [New] York has brought to these parts some scores of them and there is Sharp a looking out to take them. We have various reports about their riches and some talk of much mony hid between this and the Capes: there was landed about 20 men as we understand at Each Cape and severall gone to [New] York. We have a sloop has bin seen cruising of the capes this considerable time but has not medled with any vessells yett tho spoke w [i] th severall inward bound. Kitchins and Butterworth sailed last week. If they be rogues outward bound I fear these plunder them…" 21 July 1699: A letter generally on other matters but relating the notable news to Dickinson, "Thou will hear that Kidd and most of his men are in jail in Boston." Kidd was lured into Boston and arrested on 6 July 1699. The first letter is quite interesting, suggesting that the belief in buried treasure has contemporary origins and was not a fabrication derived from the myths perpetuated many years after Kidd’s execution.