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H.M.S. Victory reported lost at sea...



Item # 646467
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, October, 1744 

* HMS Victory has been lost... 255 years later it is found!

Certainly the most notable report in this issue is the report of the sinking of the British ship H.M.S. Victory. A report dated February 5, 2009 from the "Best Syndication News" service brings this event into the 21st century with its breaking news reading: "The HMS Victory ship sunk in stormy seas back in 1744 but it wasn’t until this week, when an American company called Odyssey discovered what they call “the most significant shipwreck discovery in history.” The HMS Victory was a warship that had a crew of around 1,100 that died when it went underwater. The estimated treasures with gold coins and artifacts could be worth potentially $1 billion. The Odyssey company is undergoing a legal battle to allow them to recover the treasures and artifacts. Because the HMS Victory is a military ship she is the property of the British government according to the laws of marine salvaging."
There are two reports in this genuine 1744 magazine of this ship's sinking, the first being just a reference to it as a preface to another shipwreck report. The top of the page is headed: "Remarkable Account of a Ship-wreck." and the prefacing text reads: "The following relation of a ship wreck, never I believe before printed, may be seasonably inserted at this time when we have so much reason to lament the loss of the Victory and the great number of our unfortunate countrymen on board, who being supposed to have all entirely perished at once not far from the same fatal place, occasioned me to look for and send you this moving account." and what follows is the report of another ship wreck.
The second report appears several pages later, being the actual news reports of the Victory being lost, reading in part: "...On the 3d instant we met with a hard gale of wind which tore all our sails and rigging, so that we were obliged to submit to the mercy of the waves...Admiral Balchen, who commanded the fleet, was separated from them in that storm, and lost, in the Victory of 110 brass guns, between the 4th and 5th, near Alderney, with 1100 men, among which were about 50 gentlemen volunteers." with a bit more (see).
Terrific to have this early and timely report of the sinking of the H.M.S. Victory recently been found.
Complete in 56 pages, full title/index page,5 by 8 inches, very nice condition. There are no maps or plates called for in this issue.

Category: The 1600's and 1700's