Hello Nancy
Happy New Year to you, and yours.
We had a great time in New York and on the Queen Mary cruise to the Caribbean. It went all too quickly and is off course now history.
In NY I purchased a first edition of the Pennsylvania Pilgrim, poems by JG Whittier, which contain the Three Bells poem. Also purchased 'The Wreck of the San Frncisco' by EA Stackpole as published in 1954. Also visited several book and rare print shops for other data and made some useful contacts. I also visited the NY Library Newspaper Room and managed to fill some of the holes in my data. Time was rather limited, as you realise the attraction of Macys Bloomingdales etc to my wife. We did get through some money which resulted in a $100 charge for excess lugagge on the way back to the UK.
Some other places i wanted to visit were not open during the holiday period.
Another trip purely for research, looks good for later in the year, IF MY WIFE AGREES?
I have most if not all of the NYT Articles which i have painstakingly transcribed inc the one dated 1869. I also have a number from the Broolyn Eagle.
The so called 'plans' from Mystic Seaport are not worth 'Tuppence'. They consist of an incomplete drawing showing the contours of the hull only, and do not show the paddle wheels, masts or the controversial'guards, There are no details of the cabins, decks, engines, masts or rigging and no details showing construction.
In short they were to me a waste of money.
When i sent for plans of the Three Bells, from the London Maritime Museum they advised me that the Plans showed only minimal data of the hull but would provide information of the sails and rigging. However i did not send for them but was able to see a smaller reproduction of them in a book on clipper ships, which was sufficient for me to produce an 'artist's impression, although i am not an artist.
Best Regards, and sorry for the dalay in replying!
Jim