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Catalogue 255 The |
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Section VI: Massachusetts Laws to Osborne |
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Papers
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Collection of Massachusetts Laws, 139. [Massachusetts Laws]: [SAMMELBAND OF TWENTY-FIVE REVOLUTIONARY ERA MASSACHUSETTS LAWS AND THE FOLIO PRINTING OF THE 1780 MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTION]. Watertown or Boston: Benjamin Edes, 1775-1783. Various paginations, as described below. Folio. Contemporary reverse calf, covers and spine tooled in blind. Spine lacking, leather detached from front board, leather nearly detached from rear board, boards still attached, cords intact. Front and rear endpapers loose from boards. Dampstains, stains, light foxing throughout. Some top edges and foredges closely trimmed with occasional loss of text; occasional leaves loose; occasional tears, some with loss of text. Third title lacks seven pages, tenth title lacks final leaf (see below for additional information for specific titles). Several ownership inscriptions of Joseph Allen of Worcester, Massachusetts. Near good condition. In a cloth clamshell case, leather label. A sammelband of Revolutionary-era Massachusetts acts and laws published by Benjamin Edes and various associates between 1775 and 1783. The collection of documents is of particular interest for a number of legislative actions directly related to the Revolutionary War, such as maritime defense, the creation of militias, the buildup of troops, and various issues regarding treason, deserters, and Tories. The first three documents, printed in Watertown, New England "under the reign of George the Third, King," includes acts regarding the development of the colony’s defense. Chapter I of the second title is "an act for encouraging the fixing out of armed vessels to defend the sea coast of America, and for erecting a court to try and condemn all vessels that shall be found infesting the same." Chapter I of the third title is "an act for forming and regulating the militia within the colony of Massachusetts Bay," and Chapter XIII from the same session is "an act for raising and forming a regiment or troop...out of the several regiments of foot in the county of Worcester." (Similar acts for other towns are to be found recorded elsewhere in the volume.) While the first and second of these Watertown imprints are recorded in a dozen institutions each, the third title is located only at the Pennsylvania Historical Society, and all three are extremely uncommon in the market. Numerous additional acts related to the war are found in the acts and laws "of the state of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England," printed after the Declaration of Independence. Chapter XXI of the fourth title, printed in 1777, includes an extensive act "for providing a reinforcement to the American Army." Legislation regarding treason is also thoroughly documented. Chapter XXXII is a lengthy act "against treason...and regulating trials in such cases, and for directing the mode of executing judgments against persons attainted of felony." In a related matter, Chapter XIII in the eighth title, printed in 1778, is an act "to prevent the return to this state of certain persons therein named, and others, who have left this state, or either of the United States, and joined the enemies thereof." The latter consists of three pages of names of Tories prohibited from returning to the state. This volume belonged to Joseph Allen (1749-1827), a nephew of Samuel Adams who moved to Worcester in 1776 and was a member of the Massachusetts State constitutional convention in 1788. His signature and additional manuscript annotations are found on the rear free endpaper as well as on individual titles published between 1779 and 1782. This set of documents, bound after Adams collected them individually over a number of years, are as follow: 1) In The Fifteenth Year of the Reign of George the Third, King, &c. Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Watertown...the Nineteenth Day of July...1775. Watertown, New England: Printed by Benjamin Edes, Printer to the Honorable Council and Honorable House of Representatives, 1775. pp.1-7. Leaves loose, upper right corner torn with slight loss of text. EVANS 14202. 2) In the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of George the Third, King, &c. Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Watertown...the Nineteenth Day of July...1775...and Thence Continued by Adjournment to...the Twentieth Day of September Following.... Watertown, New England: Printed by Benjamin Edes, Printer to the Honorable Council and Honorable House of Representatives, 1775. pp.9-13. Leaves loose, upper right corner torn with slight loss of text. EVANS 14203. 3) In the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of George the Third, King, &c. Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Watertown...the Nineteenth Day of July...1775...and Thence Continued by Adjournments to...the Twenty-ninth Day of November Following, and Then Met. [Watertown: Benjamin Edes, 1776]. pp.15-59. Lacks pp.23-38 and pp.59. Pp.39-44 present but misbound. Pp.21-22 cleanly torn on fold. Pp.49-50 loose. Pp.43-44, 51-54, 57-58 torn with slight loss of text. Colophon from Bristol. This copy also includes pp.65-68 of Acts and Laws from an additional publication. BRISTOL B4274. 4) In the Year of Our Lord, 1776. [Acts And Laws, Passed by the Great and General Court or Assembly of the State of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England]. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, Printer to the Honorable Council of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, 1777. pp.71-106. Top edges slightly shaved. EVANS 15400. 5) [Acts and Laws, Passed by the Great and General Court of Assembly of the State of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England]. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, Printer to the Honorable Council of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, 1777. pp.107-137. Pp.109-110 torn with no loss, manuscript additions on pp.107, 122-123. EVANS 15401. 6) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-eighth Day of May...1775. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, Printer to the Honorable the Council, 1778. pp.139-178. Pp.165-166 cleanly torn with no loss. Manuscript additions on p.139 and p.155. EVANS 15883. 7) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-seventh Day of May...1778. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, Printer to the Honorable the Council of Massachusetts State, 1778. pp.179-189. Slight manuscript additions on pp.186-187. EVANS 15884. 8) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-seventh Day of May...1778; and From Thence Continued by Adjournments to...the Sixteenth Day of September Following, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, Printer to the Honorable Council of Massachusetts-State, 1778. pp.191-207. Last leaf (p.207) loose. EVANS 15885. 9) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-seventh Day of May...1778; and From Thence Continued by Adjournments to...the Sixth Day of January 1779, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, Printer to the Honorable Council of Massachusetts State, 1779. pp.209-222. Last leaf (p.222) loose. EVANS 16343. 10) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-seventh Day of May...1778; and From Thence Continued by Adjournments to...the Seventh Day of April Following, and Then Met. [Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, and Comp’y. Printers to the honorable Council of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, 1779]. pp.223-237. Lacks last leaf (p.237), colophon from Evans. EVANS 16344. 11) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held...the Twenty-sixth Day of May...1779. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes, and Comp’y. Printers to the Honorable Council of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, 1779. pp.239-251. Ownership inscription of J. Allen on p.251. EVANS 16345. 12) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-sixth Day of May...1779; and From Thence Continued by Adjournment to...the Eighth of September Following, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Honorable Council of the State of Massachusetts-Bay, 1779-80. pp.253-277. EVANS 16346. NAIP W032864. 13) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-sixth Day of May...1779; From Thence Continued by Adjournments to...the Eighth of March Following, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Honorable Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay, 1780. pp.279-309 [i.e. 279-311]. Last leaf loose, two-page unpaginated valuation list inserted between pp. 296 and 297. EVANS 16837. 14) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Thirty-first Day of May...1780. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Honorable Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay, 1780. pp.311-317. Not in Evans. NAIP W015008. 15) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Thirty-first Day of May...1780; and From Thence Continued by Adjournment to...the Seventh of September Following, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Honourable Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay, 1780. pp.319-329. Ownership inscription "Joseph Allen Worcester 1780" on blank verso of p.329. Not in Evans. NAIP W0150101. 16) The Constitution or Frame of Government for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to His Excellency the Governor, the Council and Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1781. 24pp. Titlepage and p.3 torn with no loss, foredge of text closely trimmed with some loss of text. Manuscript additions on pp. 4, 5, 7, 22, and 23. Titlepage inscribed, with each letter of the printed title written in cursive capital letters. A Latin inscription is also added around the shield of the Commonwealth. This is the second edition of the final Massachusetts state constitution, a document of the greatest influence on the federal constitution. EVANS 17229. 17) A Table. [Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes & Sons, Printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1782]. 5pp. First leaf torn with slight loss. Manuscript index additions on pp.4-5. The index for Evans 17592, bound as the twenty-fifth title in this volume, described below. 18) Acts and Laws, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to His Excellency the Governor, the Council and Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1781. 49pp. Foredge trimmed close, affecting sidenotes. The title and imprint, as recorded on titlepage and by Evans 17211, but correct pagination, variant caption title on page 3, and variant imprint in colophon on p.49 as recorded by Evans 17212. Ownership inscription of Joseph Allen dated 1780 (?) on blank verso of p.5. EVANS 17212. 19) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-fifth Day of October...1780; and From Thence Continued by Adjournments to...the Eleventh Day of April, 1781, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1871. pp.51-74. Trimmed at foredge slightly affecting some sidenotes. EVANS 17213. 20) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-eighth Day of May...1781. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1781. pp.75-85. Trimmed at foredge, affecting some sidenotes. EVANS 17214. 21) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held At Boston...the Thirtieth Day of May...1781; and From Thence Continued by Adjournment to...the Twelfth Day of September Following, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1781. pp.87-107. Trimmed at foredge, slightly affecting some sidenotes. Ownership inscription of Joseph Allen with additional Latin inscription in his hand on verso of p.107. EVANS 17215. 22) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Thirtieth Day of May...1781; and From Thence Continued by Adjournments to...the Sixteenth Day of January 1782, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1782. pp.109-121. Pp.109-110 torn with slight loss, trimmed at foredge slightly affecting some sidenotes. Ownership inscription of "Allen" with additional notes on p.109. EVANS 17589. 23) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Thirtieth Day of May...1781; and From Thence Continued by Adjournments to...the Eleventh Day of April, 1782, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1782. pp.123-131. Trimmed at foredge, slightly affecting some sidenotes. Manuscript annotation on p.125 indicates that an act was repealed, noting page recording the repeal. EVANS 17590. 24) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-ninth Day of May, 1782. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1782. pp.133-163. Trimmed at foredge, slightly affecting a few sidenotes. EVANS 17591. 25) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-ninth Day of May...1782; and From Thence Continued by Adjournment to...the Eighteenth Day of September Following, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes & Sons, Printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1782. pp.165-205. Foredge and top edge trimmed, affecting sidenotes and headlines. The five-page index for this work is bound as the seventeenth title in this volume, described above. Inscription on verso of p.205: "Worcester County, Acts and Laws." EVANS 17592. 26) Acts and Laws...Begun and Held at Boston...the Twenty-ninth Day Of May...1782; and From Thence Continued by Adjournments to...the Twenty-ninth Day of January Following, and Then Met. Boston: Printed by Benjamin Edes & Sons, Printers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1783. pp.207-245. Pp.241-242 cleanly torn, foredge and top edge trimmed closely, affecting text, last leaf loose. Following blank leaf inscribed "Jos. Allen, Worcester," with additional Latin inscription. EVANS 18022. A contemporary sammelband of Massachusetts laws providing documentation of the legislative process during the Revolutionary era, with engaging examples of acts regarding the conflict with Great Britain. Evans and NAIP references as given above. $8500. The Battle of Long Island 140. [Mauduit, Israel]: REMARKS UPON GEN. HOWE’S ACCOUNT OF HIS PROCEEDINGS ON LONG-ISLAND, IN THE EXTRAORDINARY GAZETTE OF OCTOBER 10, 1776. London. 1778. [4],54pp. Half title. Dbd. Old library stamp on titlepage, else good. Criticism of Howe’s conduct in the Battle of Long Island, wherein he refused to allow the entrenchments at Brooklyn to be attacked because of the element of risk. Mauduit gives a detailed analysis of the battle, including the deposition of troops involved AMERICAN CONTROVERSY 78-69a. HOWES M430, "aa." SABIN 46919. $1000. 141. [Mauduit, Israel]: THREE LETTERS TO LORD VISCOUNT HOWE. WITH REMARKS ON THE ATTACK AT BUNKER HILL...TO WHICH IS ADDED, A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE CONDUCT OF LORD CORNWALLIS AND GENERAL HOWE. London: G. Wilkie, 1781. [4],48pp. Modern three-quarter brown morocco, black gilt morocco label. Internally clean. Very good. Second edition, after the first of the previous year. A vituperative impeachment of the military efforts of Lord and Gen. Howe in America, occasionally attributed to the infamous Loyalist, Joseph Galloway, though cited under "Mauduit" in Howes, Sabin, Gephart, and Halkett & Laing. At the time of publication, the Monthly Review (Vol. LXIII, p.65) stated: "These letters contain many strong articles of impeachment of the conduct of Lord and Sir William Howe during their command in America. The particulars are too well known, and the silence of the noble brothers is, by many, considered as a strong presumption that the charge implied in them is not to be answered." History may take a different tack, and it would appear that Mauduit’s accusations that the Howe brothers entered into pursuit of the rebels "taking care never to overtake them, but always to come up within an hour or two after they were gone" bears some merit. Mauduit also includes specific criticisms of several naval engagements off the coast of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Long Island. While Howes and Sabin call for a map with this edition, the final authority on the subject, Adams, does not call for one. It would be unusual to have a map in a political pamphlet of this sort. Quite scarce, Adams locates only seven copies HOWES M435. SABIN 46928. GEPHART 3263. HALKETT & LAING 6, p.46. AMERICAN CONTROVERSY 80-53b. $1250. An Exotic Account of Sea Battles 142. [Mauritius Imprints]: RELATION DÉTAILLÉE DE LA CAMPAGNE DE M. LE COMMANDEUR DE SUFFREN, DANS L’INDE, DU 1er. JUIN 1782. AU 29 SEPTEMBRE SUIVANT. Port-Louis [Mauritius: Nicholas Lambert or François Nicolas Bolle], 1783. [1], 33pp. 12mo. Modern morocco, spine gilt, a.e.g. A fine copy. First edition of this very rare and early Mauritius imprint, published fifteen years after the first press was established there in 1768, recording French Admiral André Suffren’s actions against Sir Edward Hughes’ British Squadron in the East Indies during the American Revolution. These attacks, famed for their ferocity, provided Suffren with a unique standing among French admirals, and placed him in the front rank of sea commanders of the era. This pamphlet, possibly written by Jacques Jerome Antoine Trublet de Villejegu, documents two of Suffren’s four engagements with the British Navy in the Bay of Bengal. Although fought on the other side of the globe, these battles may be considered the final formal engagements of the Revolution which influenced Britain’s decision to end the war with the colonies. Suffren had previously been attached to the comte D’Estaing’s squadron throughout its operations in North America and the West Indies. These New World activities are also briefly mentioned in the text. An extremely rare 18th-century Mauritius imprint. The NUC records one copy at NYPL, while OCLC lists only the 1970 London reprint. TOUSSAINT, BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MAURITIUS 98. TOUSSAINT, EARLY PRINTING IN THE MASCARENE ISLANDS, p.97. NMM 1441. GEPHART 14523 (1970 ed). $12,500.143. [Mazzei, Filippo]: RECHERCHES HISTORIQUES ET POLITIQUES SUR LES ÉTATS-UNIS DE L’AMÉRIQUE...par un Citoyen de Virginie.... Paris. 1788. Four volumes. Original plum boards, neatly rebacked in calf. Very good. The author emigrated to America from Italy in 1773 to introduce the cultivation of grapes and olives to the United States. He became a neighbor of Jefferson in Virginia, settling near Monticello at Jefferson’s request, and this association led to their long friendship and the author’s acquaintance with Franklin and Adams. A staunch Republican, Mazzei took an active role in the Independence movement. In this work he outlines the history of the American colonies, the causes of the Revolution, and the economy and government of the United States. Also discussed are Indians, slavery, emigration, and the Society of the Cincinnati. An important work which Dumas Malone characterizes as "probably the most reliable of all the works of the period on the United States." Jefferson aided Mazzei in the compilation of the work while acting as American minister in Paris. HOWES M456. SABIN 47206. MALONE, THOMAS JEFFERSON II, pp.109-10. $1500.144. McCall, Hugh, Capt.: THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA, CONTAINING BRIEF SKETCHES OF THE MOST REMARKABLE EVENTS UP TO THE PRESENT DAY. Savannah: Printed and published by Seymour and Williams, 1811-1816. Two volumes. [8],376; [8], 424pp. Later calf, ornate gilt-tooled spine. Internally bright and clean. Contemporary ownership signature at top of each titlepage. Very good and tight. The first history of the state of Georgia and a standard work of southern history as well as an interesting imprint. McCall’s history covers events from 1733 to 1783, with the first volume going through 1773 and the second being wholly devoted to the Revolution. The second volume was written largely from personal experience, since McCall was a Revolutionary officer. Willingham says the book is written "intelligently and well" and is "a landmark in the development of Georgia literature." Streeter calls it "the chief source on the border wars with the Creeks and Cherokees. This is one of the rarest of state histories." HOWES M33. DE RENNE, p.344. CHURCH 1305. SABIN 42973. WILLINGHAM 21. STREETER SALE 1161. FIELD 972. $3500.Defending the Western Frontier 145. [McIntosh, Lachlan]: [CONTEMPORARY MANUSCRIPT COPY OF A REPORT BY GEN. LACHLAN McINTOSH, WRITING FROM FORT PITT IN JANUARY 1779, PROVIDING A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF TROOP PLACEMENT AND SUPPLY PROBLEMS IN THE WESTERN THEATER OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR]. Fort Pitt. Jan. 11, 1779. [4]pp. Folio. Light traces of old folds. Extremely minor soiling and age-toning at edges. Very good. A contemporary manuscript copy of Gen. Lachlan McIntosh’s report, written from Fort Pitt on Jan. 11, 1779, evidently to the Continental Congress, providing a detailed account of troop locations and supply difficulties in the western theater of the Revolutionary War during the winter of 1779. McIntosh provides specific information on where troops are situated and the scarcity of supplies, and also reports on additional military matters including the situation with the local Indians and the difficulty of maintaining troops. In the fall of 1778, McIntosh (best remembered today as the man who killed a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Button Gwinnett, in a duel) served as the commander of the American Army sent to the Ohio region to defeat the Wyandot Indians, allies of the British, and to attack the British garrison at Detroit. As winter came on, McIntosh established a fort on the Tuscarawas River northwest of Fort Pitt named Fort Laurens, which he left under the command of Col. John Gibson. In early December he withdrew with the rest of his troops to Fort Pitt. Conditions for McIntosh and his men at Fort Pitt were extremely difficult. The report makes clear the relationship between troop locations and the scarcity of supplies. The General’s report begins by noting his recent "discharging all the militia which the want of provisions obliged me to do." He then lists the locations of troops in the region still under his command: "I have stationed the Continental Troops for the winter in the following manner, viz: Col. Gibson with 150 men of his own Reg.t at Fort Laurens near Tuscarawas. Col. Broadhead with his whole Reg.t at the post near the Big Beaver upon the Indian side of Ohio River, and these two stations only if well supported...Upon account of the scarceness of our provisions I keep Cap. Moorehead’s Indian Company still at Fort Hand...and the relics of a company, late O’Hara’s, with 15 men more of the 19th Virginia at Fort Randolph, for the conveniency of getting small supplies in the country; these are all the forts now in this department, & not a single militia man under pay in either of them." McIntosh discusses at length the scarcity of various supplies in the region for the colonists. Although the white "inhabitants seem confident of being safe, and I am informed are every where coming out...and over the mountains, to...their plantations, which is pleasing, but is attended with this inconveniency, that it makes grain, meat, & every other article exceeding scarce & dear. I have not now six week’s flour on this side of the mountains, and Col. George Morgan, who at last arrived here... informs me there is only about 100,000 weight more at Old Town on the other side, a great part of that damaged through the neglect of the Quartermaster’s Department; nor have we got pack horses sufficient to supply us." McIntosh notes that cattle, pork, salt, and forage for horses are also scarce supplies. The General writes in detail of the scarcities caused by ineffective Quartermasters, the problems he has had with other officers in the field, and the difficulties in maintaining an adequate number of troops. He mentions specifically the laws of the two colonies with claims on Fort Pitt, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, which influence the size of the militia: "The laws of Virginia do not allow their militia to serve above three months from the time they are draughted, and more than that is generally elapsed before they can be got up here. The laws of Pennsylvania only two months upon any occasion. An application from Congress to their respective legislatures may perhaps get them altered if only for this particular business so necessary for their own safety." McIntosh briefly reports on the current situation with the local Indians, specifically mentioning "a copy of Colonel Gibson’s last letter [of December 21, 1778] with a message he sent from the Indians to me which shows their present disposition, but without Congress can fall upon some means to supply them...it is in vain for us to expect continuance of their friendship...and while our enemies only can supply them with absolutely necessary articles of life, we cannot without force expect even to keep them to a neutrality." General McIntosh apologizes that his expedition has not been more effective, and foresees the need of meeting with his superiors in person to discuss future maneuvers in the western theater: "I am sorry I could not go so far as I intended for want of horses & provisions, but hope what I have done will have good effect and meet the approbation of the Board. Besides the safety of the inhabitants, it is so much done toward another campaign wh[ich] I hope will finish our business in this quarter, but to settle & fix upon a proper plan with the Board for that purpose I am apprehensive it will be necessary that I go to Philadelphia myself this spring." A rare Revolutionary War manuscript with detailed information concerning troop locations and supply scarcities in the western theater of the war. $2000. 146. [Miles, William Augustus]: A POLITICAL MIRROR; OR, A SUMMARY REVIEW OF THE PRESENT REIGN. WITH NOTES, EXPLANATORY AND HISTORICAL, AND AN AUTHENTIC LIST OF THE SHIPS AND VESSELS OF WAR, TAKEN AND DESTROYED, SINCE THE COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES. London: Fielding and Walker, 1779. [2],67pp. Dbd. Internally quite clean. Very good. A rare British pamphlet in support of the American colonies, using a survey of the political motivations of recent kings of Britain as its point of departure. In an intriguing comparison, Miles lists those ships captured thus far by the Americans and French during the present war (often with the year and place of loss or destruction), followed by the total lost during the Seven Years’ War. In all, he lists forty ships taken by the Americans and French, against only three lost during the previous conflict. Quite rare, Adams locates only seven copies. AMERICAN CONTROVERSY 79-77a. SABIN 63789. HOWES P441, "aa." $1000.147. [Murray, James]: AN IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF THE WAR IN AMERICA, BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.... Boston: Printed by Nathaniel Coverly and Robert Hodge, 1781/1782. Fourteen parts bound in two volumes. 65-445; 448pp., and disbound Part I (pp.1-64), plus eight (of twelve) engraved plates by J. Norman. Mid-19th-century half cloth and plain boards, leather labels. Rear hinge of first volume cracked but still holding. Tanned, some foxing, a few portraits detached. Overall good plus. Inscription on front pastedown: "Benj. Hale / 1842 / Pamphlets collected / from [?] then left by my / hon’d grandfather / Jo Little Esq." Lacks the two maps found in an absolutely complete set. The rare Boston edition of Murray’s history of the Revolution, printed in parts, after the first British edition of 1778-80. All fourteen parts of the first two volumes are present, and textually this set lacks only the unfinished third volume, which is excessively rare. The plates are charmingly crude engravings of military leaders, including an unfamiliar portrait of Washington standing beside a cannon, as well as portraits of Nathaniel Green, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Richard Montgomery, Benjamin Franklin, Anthony Wayne, and B. Lincoln. "The copper plate portraits are rudely engraved, and bear no resemblance to other portraits of the men they are intended to represent" – Evans. These plates alone are remarkable examples of early American engraving. Because this American edition was issued in parts over a period of several years, complete sets are rarely seen. Howes accords this Boston edition a "c" rating. Issued as it was while the war was still in full swing, it is a remarkable production. HOWES M916, "c." EVANS 17241, 17610. $3000.The Oneidas Refuse Help 148. [Native American Speeches]: [AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED, FROM JAMES CLINTON TO GOV. GEORGE CLINTON, REGARDING SULLIVAN’S EXPEDITION AND OTHER MATTERS]. [with:] SPEECH OF TEN ONEIDA WARRIORS TO GENERAL CLINTON...[manuscript caption title]. ["Camp Connosohani Creek" & Lake Otsego]. June 27 and July 5, 1779. [1]; [2]pp. manuscript. Folio. Each with slight edge wear and faint fold lines. First item docketed on verso. Overall very good. In a half morocco box. Two important manuscripts regarding the upper New York campaign of the Revolutionary War, notable for the transcript of an address by the leaders of the Oneida tribe. The first item, a letter from James Clinton to Gov. George Clinton, was written to transmit a copy of "The Last Speech, Confession, and Dying Words of His Excellency Genl. Haldiman to the Oneidas" (not present here), with the request it be forwarded to "His Excellency," presumably George Washington. In his letter, however, James Clinton also informs the Governor of the status of his command and his intent to move troops and supplies to Lake Otsego. He writes: "[W]e are extremely hurried in this Place with the Transportation of the stores to the Lake that I find it almost impossible to attend to the ordinary Duties of the Camp, altho I have appointed Capt. Bleeker of the 3rd. Reg. as Major of Brigade in addition to Major Popham who has hitherto transacted all the Business of the Department without any other adjutant. I would also inform you that all the Boats Stores Provisions & Baggage of the Army will be at the Landing of Lake Otsego next Wednesday at which time I intend to move all the Troops to that Place, and wait for Genl. Sullivan’s Orders for embarkation of which I will advise you the soonest possible." The second item concerns the tenuous relationship between the Oneida tribe and the Continental Army. Under threat by the rest of the Iroquois Nation, the Oneidas here retract their promise to participate in Sullivan’s campaign for fear that if they were to leave their homes, the Iroquois would attack and plunder their "castels." They write: "Brother, We suppose you Imagine we have Come here in order to Attend you upon your Expedition, but we are Sorry to Inform you that Our Situation is such as will not admit of it. "Bro, From Intelligence upon which we may depend upon, we have reason to believe that the Six Nations, mean to embrace the opportunity of our Absence in order to destroy our Castels, these Accounts we have by Spys from among them, and we know that a Considerable body of them are now Collected at Cauga, for that purpose, waiting in Expectation of Our Warriors leaving the Castle to join you. "Bro, This is a time of Danger with us. Our brethren the Americans have always promised us assistance for our protection when ever we stand in need of it, we therefore request that agreeable to these promises, we may have some troops sent to our assistance, in this time of great Danger...." The Oneidas close their letter by saying that should the Americans come to their aid, and should they defeat the Iroquois, then they will join the expedition. According to William Stone, the biographer of Joseph Brant, the Oneidas had fully intended to participate in Sullivan’s expedition until alarmed by the receipt of Gen. Haldimand’s letter, referred to in the letter from James Clinton to George Clinton. The text of that letter and of the speech present here are quoted in Stone’s biography of Brant. Despite the absence of the Oneidas, Sullivan’s campaign succeeded in displacing the Iroquois allies of the British Army. Engaging background concerning a pivotal event in the upper New York campaign. William Stone, Life of Joseph Brant (New York, 1838). $7500.New Hampshire Grants 149. [New Hampshire]: IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX. COLONY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. AN ACT FOR ENCOURAGING THE FIXING OUT OF ARMED VESSELS, TO DEFEND THE SEA COAST OF AMERICA, AND TO CRUIZE ON THE ENEMIES OF UNITED STATES COLONIES, AS ALSO FOR ERECTING A COURT, TO TRY AND CONDEMN ALL SHIPS...GOODS, WARES AND MERCHANDIZES, BELONGING TO ANY INHABITANT OR INHABITANTS OF GREAT BRITAIN, TAKEN ON THE HIGH SEAS. [Exeter, N.H.]. 1776. pp.19-25. Folio. Gathered signatures. Upper inner margin of signatures soiled and chipped, affecting but causing no loss to text. Some small tears in text block and edges. Light scattered foxing. Good. The first military act passed by an independent New Hampshire, at the outset of the Revolutionary War, providing for granting letters of marque and maritime defense. NAIP locates only three copies. EVANS 14900. WHITTEMORE 189. $1500.Establishing the Militia 150. [New Hampshire]: IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX. STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. AN ACT FOR FORMING AND REGULATING THE MILITIA WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE IN NEW-ENGLAND, AND FOR REPEALING ALL THE LAWS HERETOFORE MADE FOR THAT PURPOSE. Exeter, N.H. 1776. pp.27-42. Folio. Gathered signatures, stab holes and some stitching present. Small tears and chips at edges. Large, horizontal closed tear in first leaf, affecting but causing no loss to text. Light scattered foxing. Good. One of the first acts of an independent New Hampshire, with strong Revolutionary War content. This is the first act in the continuously paginated series, printed and issued from 1776 to 1778, in which New Hampshire is referred to as a "state" rather than a colony. NAIP locates only three copies. Rare. SHIPTON & MOONEY 14900. WHITTEMORE 189. $1500.New Hampshire Requires 151. [New Hampshire]: STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN. AN ACT TO OBLIGE THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ALL OFFICERS CIVIL AND MILITARY, BARRISTERS AND ATTORNEYS AT LAW, TO TAKE AND SUBSCRIBE AN OATH OF FIDELITY TO THE STATE. [Exeter?, N.H. 1777]. pp.67-70. Folio. Unbound signature. Horizontal crease. Significant chips and tears, affecting a few characters of text. Foxing and soiling. Fair. Early act of the state of New Hampshire, requiring all government and military officers to take loyalty oaths to the state. With two additional acts, both for altering times of court sessions. NAIP locates only one copy, at Harvard. SHIPTON & MOONEY 43305. $750.New Hampshire Confiscates 152. [New Hampshire]: STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED & SEVENTY-SEVEN. AN ACT TO PREVENT THE TRANSFER OR CONVEYANCE OF THE ESTATES, AND PROPERTY OF ALL SUCH PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN OR SHALL BE APPREHENDED UPON SUSPICION OF BEING GUILTY OF TREASON, MISPRISION OF TREASON, OR OTHER INIMICAL PRACTICES RESPECTING THIS STATE, THE UNITED STATES, ANY OR EITHER OF THEM, & ALSO FOR SECURING ALL LANDS WITHIN THIS STATE, AS WELL OF SUCH PERSONS AS HAVE TRATEROUSLY DESERTED, OR MAY HEREAFTER DESERT THE COMMON CAUSE OF AMERICA .... [Exeter?, N.H. 1777]. pp.83-86. Folio. Unbound signature. Soft creases from folding. Chipping along edges; small marginal tears along crease, not affecting text; small hole in both leaves, not affecting text. Light foxing and early small stains. Early ink correction in inner margin of p.84: "and of the state." Good. Early act of the state of New Hampshire, confiscating Loyalist property, as well as that of deserters. With an additional act, "to encourage fair Dealing, and to restrain and punish Sharpers and Oppressors." Only two copies located between OCLC and NAIP. SHIPTON & MOONEY 43305. $850.New Hampshire Calls 153. [New Hampshire]: STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL 5th, 1781. WHEREAS THE PRESENT SITUATION OF AFFAIRS IN THIS STATE MAKES IT NECESSARY THAT A FULL AND FREE REPRESENTATION OF THE INHABITANTS THEREOF SHOULD MEET IN CONVENTION FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF FORMING AND LAYING A PERMANENT PLAN OR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.... [Exeter. 1781]. Broadside, 12½ x 7½ inches. Some creasing. Small hole, with loss to two words. Very minor foxing. Contemporary ink inscription on verso: "March & April 1781 No. 2." Overall very good. New Hampshire broadside, announcing an important constitutional convention. In January 1776, New Hampshire became the first of the thirteen colonies to adopt a constitution and create an independent commonwealth government. The 1776 constitution, however, had not been submitted to the people, and it severely limited the ability of most New Hampshire citizens to participate in the selection of their representatives. The present broadside, implicitly noting this problem, calls for the different towns and districts of the state to choose delegates to convene for the drafting of a new constitution. Numerous conflicts and amendments caused the convention to last for over two years, and the constitution was rejected by the people of the state four times before it was finally approved and put into effect in June 1784. The constitution itself greatly expanded manhood suffrage in the state, included an extensive bill of rights, and is notable as one of the earliest documents establishing the republican form of government adopted by the Framers in Philadelphia in 1787. NAIP records three copies. EVANS 17250. WHITTEMORE 303. $7500.Congressional Bills of Credit 154. [New York]: IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY FOR THE STATE OF NEW-YORK [caption title]. [Fish-kill: Samuel Loudon, March 1, 1777]. Broadside, 8½ x 11 inches. Laid down on archival paper. Very good and clean. A broadside printing of fifteen resolutions regarding the election of tax supervisors, assessors, and collectors, as well as the collection of debts due to the state or the Continental Congress via the sale of New York State loan certificates. Two of the fifteen resolutions are particularly important. The first establishes bills of credit emitted by the Continental Congress, the Provincial Congress of New York, or the New York Convention, as legal tender for all debts public and private in New York. The second authorizes the seizure of merchandise from avaricious merchants stockpiling wheat and grain for the purpose of inflating prices. The broadside is signed in type by Robert Benson, secretary of the committee. Good evidence of the fiscal administration of the war in New York. Extremely rare. OCLC locates only one copy, at Yale. EVANS 15476. NAIP w016465. OCLC 48014210. $4000.New York Arms for the Revolution, 1775 155. [New York Second Provincial Congress]: IN PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, NEW-YORK, AUGUST 8th, 1775. RESOLVED, THAT THE SEVERAL COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES WITHIN THIS COLONY, BE DIRECTED IMMEDIATELY TO PURCHASE OR HIRE ALL THE ARMS, WITH OR WITHOUT BAYONETS, THAT ARE FIT FOR PRESENT SERVICE (ON THE CREDIT OF THIS COLONY) AND TO DELIVER THEM TO THE RESPECTIVE COLONELS IN THIS COLONY EMPLOYED IN THE CONTINENTAL SERVICE, OR THEIR ORDER, FOR THE USE OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY.... [New York. 1775]. Broadside, 9 x 7¾ inches. Backed in linen. Fine. In a half morocco and cloth box. A fine Revolutionary War broadside, publicizing a resolution by New York’s Second Provincial Congress to better arm the young Continental Army. "The most pressing problem facing the Second Provincial Congress was defense. By midsummer local committees under the direction of the Provincial Congress were busily collecting arms and organizing militia companies. This activity provoked a serious incident on August 23, when the royal warship Asia opened fire as New York troops began to remove the cannon from Fort George at the tip of Manhattan Island. The colonials returned the fire, killing one British soldier and wounding others. The incident strengthened the resolution of the citizens to defend themselves" – Ellis, et al, A Short History of New York State. Evans ascribes printing to the press of John Holt. Two copies are located between Evans and the NUC. Scarce. EVANS 14308. $12,500.156. [O’Beirne, Thomas Lewis]: A SHORT HISTORY OF THE LAST SESSION OF PARLIAMENT, WITH REMARKS. London: Printed for J. Almon, and J. Debrett, 1780. 99pp., plus [1]p. of ads. Dbd. Titlepage and ads page a bit soiled and tanned. Some light foxing. Very good. O’Beirne was the chaplain of the fleet under Richard Howe, and this criticism of Parliament includes a number of references to England’s dismal performance in the American Revolution. A supporter of the Whigs and their causes, O’Beirne bemoans the misapplication of resources in fighting the American rebels ("a cruel and savage war, against her fellow subjects"), and takes the Tories to task for domestic corruption as well. Not in Howes. AMERICAN CONTROVERSY 80-59. SABIN 80639. $900.157. [Osborne, Francis Godolphin]: A LETTER TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE L—D TH——W.... London: Printed for R. Faulder, 1780. [2],26pp. Dbd. Lightly tanned along foredge of titlepage. Very good. Authorship is attributed by the DNB to Francis Osbourne, the Fifth Duke of Leeds (identified by Adams as the Fourth Duke). Osborne served both in the House of Commons and House of Lords before issuing this anonymous pamphlet addressed to Edward Thurlow, the Lord Chancellor of England, advocating a change of government and calling for the removal of Lord North as Prime Minister. Osborne belittles of the government’s conduct of the war in America. A scarce pamphlet. AMERICAN CONTROVERSY 80-46.1. SABIN 40526. $1000. |
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