This cover was sent from Glasgow to New York during the War of 1812. The ship that carried it was stopped by the British and, as noted at the top, it was “opened by the commander of the La Hogue.”
The ship Henry sailed from Liverpool in mid-March 1813. On April 28, the La Hogue, a 74-gun vessel commanded in 1813 by Captain Thomas Bladen Capel, captured the Henry and sent it to the Vice Admiralty (Prize) Court at Halifax. It was cleared on June 15 and arrived at Boston on June 26. When it arrived it was brought to the post office and rated 17c as a single sheet letter sent 150-300 miles. It was not marked as a ship letter and rated an additional 2c as required. Perhaps it was carried privately (i.e., not by the captain) to the post office.”
