Extracted from an unpublished memoir and published in the 'Wine and Spirit Trade Record', 16th December 1950, by "kind permission of Mr Cecil Arthur Hunt". This is a photocopy in the possession of my late father Bernard F Rawes¹.

Sketch taken from Oporto, Old and New².

PAGE ONE Chaptor III - 1800 - present day From Wine and Spirit Trade Record 16th December 1950.    Extracted from an unpublished memoir by Mr. Arthur Roope Hunt. FGS of Southwood, Torquay, written probably in 1902. Born 1848, Oporto, died 1914, Concerning his father, Mr. Arthur Hunt (Son of William Hunt of Dartmouth. Born 1761. Married Mary Brooking. Died 1839.) partner in Hunt, Roope & Co. Oporto. Born 1797. Dartmouth. Died 1873.    Mr. Arthur Hunt (Born 1762) went out to Oporto in 1814. His uncle, Mr. Thomas Holdsworth Hunt (Born 1762. Married Harriet Newman in 1802. Died 1845 was a partner in Hunt Roope & Co. Oporto, Newfoundland dried codfish importers with Port Wine Lodges in Villa Nova de Gaia at that time. It is probable that on account of this family relationship he was sent out from Dartmouth to work in this Oporto firm.    In 1814, aged 17, he was despatched from Dartmouth Harbour in a six-oared pilot gig to await outside the arrival of the convoy, England being at war with America at this time. On arrival of the convoy he was taken aboard the H.M. Protecting Frigate & dined with the captain, Commodore Wise. He was then given passage in the other protecting vessel of the convoy, H.M. brig "Redwing", of which his cousin Lieut. Brooking was an Officer. A few days out the "Redwing" was signalled to chase a strange sail to the Westward. She overtook the brig at nightfall & at once cleared for action with fighting lanterns rigged. Mr. Arthur Hunt was invited to come up on deck to give help & take his station at the ready. The unknown brig was thought to be an American privateer. However, on closer scrutiny, they found her to be an armed English packet, so the "Redwing" returned to the convoy. Shortly before this incident two English brigs had fought a severe action, mistaking each other for Americans. This no doubt made the captain of the "Redwing" very cautious in his approach to the vessel he had been ordered to chase.    Mr. Arthur Hunt eventually arrived safely in Oporto, where he joined Hunt Roope & Co., being welcomed by Mr. Newman, Mr. Cabel Roope (Born circa 1775. Married 1817, Susanna Newman) and Mr. Thomas Holdsworth.    In 1836 Mr. Arthur Hunt married Mary Ann, eldest daughter of Mr Cabel Roope. She was granddaughter of Mr. Roope Harris Roope (Died 1821) who Married Mary Newman in 1771 and lived at Greenway House in the 1700's on the banks of the Dart (formerly the home of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh). In about 1843 Mr. Arthur Hunt and his wife were living in the Rua do Rosario, Oporto. They did not reside above the counting rooms (which was a fine residential house as well) of Hunt Roope & Co. in the Rua Nova dos Inglezes. No doubt the senior partners were in residence there at this time. Later Mr. Arthur Hunt went to live in the Quinta do Cornego on the extreme western border of Oporto. Situated on a plateau immediately above the Douro, the grounds extended to three terraces which ran down the hillside. In Oporto in the 1850's Mrs. Arthur Hunt went about in a sedan chair to parties, carried by men who when it was raining wore capes made of straw-like beehives. The family went about in the town in a chariot drawn by oxen with attendants with ox goads. The chariot, at the back, had a receptacle for swords & firearms & a folding staircase which was let down for entering into the vehicle. In about 1851, Mr. Arthur Hunt, as one of the leading British residents of the Colony, was given the distinction of dancing with the Queen of Portugal at a ball in the Factory House in honour of the Royal Family's visit to Oporto. The King Consort was also present. Mr. Arthur Hunt's nieces, the Teague’s, danced with the young Princes. Another ball was given for them by the Portuguese nobility in Oporto.    Mr. Arthur Hunt's sister-in-law, Mrs Nicholas Dixon Teague, was invited to this ball & was asked by an aide to dance with the King Consort. In 1832, at the time of the Miguelite campaign in Portugal, the Miguelite were outside Oporto besieging it whilst the Pedoists were inside defending Oporto. The British merchants went about their business in the Rua Nova dos Inglezes in Oporto, which was fairly safe, but they feared for their Port Wine Lodges in Villa Nova de Gaya, which were very near the attacking PAGE TWO During the siege the senior partners of Hunt, Roope & Co. gave up residing above their counting rooms in the Rua Nova Counting House. Not so Mr. Arthur Hunt, who left his Quinta home and slept in the Counting House - on the ground floor for greater safety. One night the house was hit by a shell which came crashing through the ceiling above him. The blast smashed and blew out all the doors. Luckily there was no casualties.    In the summer time at this period the families of Mr. Arthur Hunt & Mr. Nicholas Dixon Teague (Born 1797. Married 1828, Margaret Roope. Died 1867.) usually left Oporto & went down to the seaside at Leca, Mr. Hunt riding his horse to the firm's Oporto counting house every day and back again, a distance of about 5 miles. Mr. A. Hunt & his partner, Mr. Nicholas D. Teague, were then in charge of Hunt, Roope & Co's business in Oporto, which consisted of importing cargoes of Newfoundland & Labrador dried cod into Portugal which were consigned to them as Commission agents. They also received all Newman, Hunt & Co's cargoes of codfish. Besides this they looked after Hunt, Roope & Co's Port Wine Lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia. At this period partners of Newman, Hunt & Co., London, were also always partners of Hunt, Roope & Co., Oporto. Hunt, Roope & Co's only rivals at this time in the Newfoundland codfish trade in Oporto were Messrs. Noble & Murat, who they always alluded to as "The Neighbours". When Newman, Hunt & Co's vessels arrived at Oporto they hoisted their House flag, which was blue & white checks. In those days some of their vessels which came to Oporto were called the brigs "Talbot", "Beagle"3, "Harrier" and the ancient "Velocity" which was much the slowest of their fleet. They also had the three-masted "Chanticleer" and Mr. Arthur Hunt's son remembered going on board her & being much impressed by the blunderbusses, pairs of flint and percussion cap pistols which she carried.

Mr. A. Hunt & his family went to England once only during their sojourn in Portugal from 1814-1852, namely in 1817, in a small brig "Emma Graham", which was nearly cast away, when they cleared the Bar at Oporto.    A great occasion was when the brig's royals were dropped to salute the fleet running out of the Channel. The fleet passed close & dropped their insignia in courtesy, or possibly as a compliment to the ladies on the deck of the little merchant vessel. They landed at Liverpool & returned again the same year to Oporto in the "Queen", which was induced to call in to pick them up at Dartmouth. In about 1846 there was an insurrection in Portugal. Owing to the trouble, H.M. Auxiliary Paddle-Sailing Frigate "Gladiator" (Henry Berkeley, a grandson of the 5th Earl of Berkeley was a midshipman on board) was sent to Oporto. Being such a big vessel it was a great risk getting her into the Harbour over the bar. The entire British Colony in Oporto - men, women & children, were put aboard her. It was even more difficult getting her out to sea, and the pilots were terrified at their task. She was relieved of all possible weights, and she towed her boats laden with shot & shell with inches to spare. The jibs were run up man-of-war fashion by running the halliards aft by a strong company of bluejackets to each sail. In this way there was no hoisting by degrees, the sails being run up steadily. As soon as they got outside they were met by the Portuguese rebel fleet and a battle took place between them. Two of the Portuguese steamers "The Royal Tar" and the "Falcon", were boarded & overcome, the prisoners from them being put on board the "Royal Tar". Then a desperate attempt was made by other rebel vessels to recapture the "Royal Tar". A rebel schooner was also captured by the "Gladiator". The schooner's crew tried to sink their vessel. The schooner was hastily reboarded & her captain was brought aboard the "Gladiator" in irons. The schooner was taken in tow. On account of orders no doubt not being properly understood, Lieut. Crawley in the "Gladiator" ordered the Marines to fire on the schooner - much to the chagrin of Captain Robb of the "Gladiator" - as there were several casualties on the decks of the schooner in consequence. Eventually, the battle over, the "Gladiator" proceeded to Lisbon, where the British Colony were put ashore by the "small boats" of the British PAGE THREE Fleet lying in the Tagus. The British Colony returned again to Oporto in due course in the "Oporto". In the late 184O's owing to the unsettled state of Europe, many men-at-war came to Oporto, including in 1851 one of the earliest H.M. auxiliary screw corvettes which sailed with the British fleet. She was called the "Encounter", (built Pembroke 1846. Maximum speed 12.7 knots, 14 guns) Captain Gordon. She had to remain outside the harbour and the captain stayed ashore with Mr. Arthur Hunt. No pilots could be persuaded to bring her in over the Bar. They were taking no chances with a screw vessel, having nearly lost the paddle Auxiliary "Gladiator". Captain Gordon told Mr. Arthur Hunt how much easier it was to steer with the screw than with the paddle, and that the "Encounter" was much slower than the full-powered "Sailors", and when with the British Fleet she was wont to get considerably astern. The captain used to ask leave to get up steam, and in consequence the vessel went away to the windward of the fleet to no small surprise of the thoroughbred windjammers. He also said that sailing vessels with auxiliary screws were a great improvement on the paddle auxiliaries which could sail but indifferently, as these vessels had to keep a fairly even keel for the sake of the paddles.    In 1850 there were no railways in and few roads. Travel was on horseback for the men, donkeyback for the children - by bridle paths and by some rough roads for bullock carts. The ladies went in litters carried by two mules. Mules also carried the luggage & bedding. In this manner, attended by servants & muleteers, Mr. Arthur Hunt & his family would set forth from Oporto to visit the Douro Port Wine District. They used sometimes to return by Douro Port Wine Boat. When they got to the lower reaches of the river Douro they would transfer to Tolda boats with two rowers who took them comparatively quickly to Oporto.    In 1851/2, at the time of the Gold Rush in Australia, Hunt, Roope & Co. Oporto, sent a cargo of Port Wine to Australia in a chartered brig. The super-cargo or manager of this vessel, who was not the Captain, came to see Mr. Arthur Hunt who thought him an over-plausible sort of man & he did not like the look of him. Accordingly, Mr. Arthur Hunt felt somewhat doubtful as to what might happen to the vessel. Oddly enough, the first thing that was heard of her was that she was cast away on arrival in Australia. The Insurance Company, on receipt of this news, sent in to the London Office of Newman, Hunt & Co., to offer to pay the value of the cargo of Port Wine insured, but Newman, Hunt & Co. said they would wait further particulars. As it turned out not a Pipe of Port Wine was lost. They were all salved & sold to good advantage in Australia. The circumstances of the loss of the chartered brig & the ultimate safety of the cargo looked very much as though the vessel had been purposely thrown away for the sake of her insurance, when very probably the crew went off to the gold diggings.    In 1852 Mr. Arthur Hunt & his family returned to England. His uncle, Mr. Cabel Roope - his mother's half-brother - carried on the business of Hunt, Roope & Co., Oporto, together with Mr. Hunt's brother in law Mr. Nicholas Dixon Teague & his eldest son Mr. John Teague, who became a partner about 1852. In that year Mr. Arthur Hunt retired to reside at Quintella House, Torquay.    (By kind permission of Mr. Cecil Arthur Hunt.)

Notes:-

1. Bernard Rawes was great grandson of Cabel Roope (1823-1880), the son of Cabel Roope (1777-1847), through his mother Susanna May, daughter of Susanna Roope Dockery. Susanna was the daughter Cabel Roope junior. Arthur Hunt was grandson of Cabel Roope senior.
2. Oporto Old and New, being a historical record of The Port Wine Trade and a Tribute to British Commercial Enterprize in the north of Portugal, by Charles Sellers, was published by Herbert E. Harper, of London in 1899.
3. This is probably the Beagle that carried Charles Darwin on his voyage to South America, setting sail on 10th December 1831.