Mount Vernon

[shipstamps]

From a Sea Breezes reader in The Hague, Capt. van der Starre, comes in-formation on the Mount Vernon, seen on the Gs.0.30 Paraguay stamp. He writes :"After hostilities had begun between France and the U.S.A. in 1798, privateers started to sail. Elias Hasket Derby decided to risk a cargo of sugar and coffee to meet demands of Mediterranean port and had the Mount Vernon built. She was only 100 ft. long but carried 50 men and 20 guns. Built for speed, she made Cape St.Vincent in 16 days from Salem. The
voyage became a great success and paid to the Derby estate a profit of $100,000 on a total investment of $43,000 for ship and cargo".

[aukepalmhof]

She was built in 1798 by Retire Becket at the end of Derby Street, Salem, USA for Elias Hasket Derby, Salem.
A full rigged armed merchant ship.
Tonnage 359 tons burthen, dim. 30.48 x 8.81m.
Armed with 20 guns.
Crew 50.
21 February 1799 registered under the name MOUNT VERNON at Salem.

24 February 1799 sailed for her maiden voyage from Salem under command of Capt. Elias Hasket Derby jr. for Havana.
09 July 1799 departed for Cadiz, Spain with on board tobacco, sugar and nankeens.
When in a position off Gibraltar she was engaged in a famous action whit several French privateers from 28 to 31 July 1799. The stamp is designed after a painting of the action made by the Italian painter M.F. Corné; he came on board the MOUNT VERNON in 1800 to America. (the painting is now in the Peabody Museum of Salem, Massachusetts.
01 August 1799 around noon she arrived in Gibraltar.
12 July 1800 arrived at Boston, from Naples, Italy.
15 July that year was she offered for sale.

17 October 1800 was she reported stranded on a reef off Little Davis Island about 30 leagues northwest of La Guaira, Venezuela.

Paraguay 1972 30c sg?, scott 1430e

Source: The French Assault on American Shipping 1793-1813 by Cregh H. Williams. Navicula

[Arturo]

Mount Vernon

Paraguay 1980, S.G.?, Scott: 1972e.