ems a mere dusty catalogue of figures and
merchandise. This is a document to gloat over. If one has a spark of
imagination, he smacks his lips. Instead of legend and myth, here is a
veritable pirate's hoard, exactly as it should be, with its bags of
gold, bars of silver, "Rubies great and small," candlesticks and
porringers, diamonds and so on. The inventory contains also other
booty found in the course of the treasure hunt, and lest the document
itself may prove too hard reading, its contents are transcribed as
follows to convince the most skeptical mind that there was a real Kidd
treasure and that it was found in the Year of our Lord, 1699.
BOSTON, NEW ENGLAND, July 25th, 1699.
A true Accompt. of all such Gold, Silver, Jewels, and Merchandises in
the Possession of Capt. William Kidd, Which have been seized and
secured by us under-writing Pursuant to an Order from his Excellency,
Richard, Earle of Bellomont, Capt. Generall and Governor-in-Chief in
and over his Majestie's Province of ye Massachusetts Bay, etc., bearing
date[12] ... 1699, Vizt.
In Capt. William Kid's Box--
One Bag Fifty-three Silver Barrs.
One Bag Seventy-nine Barrs and pieces of silver....
One Bag Seventy-four Bars Silver.
One Enamel'd Silver Box in which are 4 diamonds
set in gold Lockets, one diamond loose,
one large diamond set in a gold ring.
Found in Mr. Duncan Campbell's House,
No. 1. One Bag Gold.
2. One Bag Gold.
3. One Handkerchief Gold.
4. One Bag Gold.
5. One Bag Gold.
6. One Bag Gold.
7. One Bag Gold.
Also Twenty Dollars, one halfe and one quart. pcs. of eight, Nine
English Crowns, one small Barr of Silver, one small Lump Silver, a
small Chaine, a small bottle, a Corral Necklace, one pc. white and one
pc. of Checkquer'd Silk....
In Capt. William Kidd's Chests--Two Silver Boxons, Two Silver
Candlesticks, one Silver Porringer, and some small things of
Silver--Rubies small and great Sixty-seven, Green Stones two. One
large Load Stone....
Landed from on board the Sloop _Antonio_ Capt. Wm. Kidd late
Command.... 57 Baggs of Sugar, 17 pieces canvis, 38 Bales of
Merchandize.
Received from Mr. Duncan Campbell Three Bailes Merchandise, Whereof one
he had opened being much damnified by water.... Eighty-five ps. Silk
Rumals and Bengalis, Sixty ps. Callicoes and Muslins.
Received the 17th. instant of Mr. John Gardiner.
No. 1. One Bag dust Gold.
|