Salver presented to Captain John C. Hewitt by the passengers of the 'Britannia' steamship, 1842.

American silver salver, part of a four-piece wine set with its original wooden carrying case. The salver has a moulded and waved rim chased with flowers and scrolling foliage, and stands on three triangular feet. The centre of the salver is inscribed: 'Presented to Captain John Hewett [sic] of The Britannia Steamship By the passengers on board that vessel In a voyage From Liverpool to Boston In the month of January 1842. As a slight acknowledgement of His great ability and skill under circumstances of much difficulty and danger as a feeble token of their lasting gratitude. Chairman - The Right Honorable The Earl of Mulgrave. Committee - Charles Dickens, Solomon Hopkins, E.E. Dunbar.'.

The wine set was presented to Captain Hewitt on 29 January 1842 in the Tremont Theatre, Boston. With the silver is a broadsheet reporting the speech made by Charles Dickens on that occasion including the words: 'In presenting Captain Hewitt with these slight and frail memorials, we are not following out a hollow custom, but are imperfectly expressing the warmest and most earnest feelings, being well assured that, with God's blessing, we owe our safety and preservation, under circumstances of unusual peril, to his ability, courage, and skill. You will please to understand that these tokens on the table are an acknowledgment, not in themselves, but in the feelings which dictates their presentation, of many long and weary nights of watching and fatigue; of great exertion of body and much anxiety of mind; and of prompt and efficient discharge of arduous duties, such as do not often present themselves.'

Charles Dickens wrote an account of his stormy transatlantic crossing on board the 'Britannia' in the second chapter of 'American Notes' (1842).

See also PLT0201, PLT0202, PLT0203 for the rest of the set.