2023-03 HCA Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2023
A complete and authentic issue of the Gentleman's Magazine, London, January 1778, 48pp., disbound, VG. Includes the tipped-in foldout map, " "Map of Hudson's River, with the adjacent Country." This map, issued at the beginning of 1778, shows the region of most of the activity in the war during 1777. This map would undoubtedly have been studied avidly by its readers. The area shown extends as far south as Philadelphia, to which Howe had moved in 1777, and as far north as Fort Ticonderoga, where Burgoyne had made a deceptively promising start to his great campaign down the Hudson from Canada. The Mohawk River is shown, down which a British support wing had attempted and failed to link up with Burgoyne. Of particular note is the insertion of a caption stating "Scene of Action on the Surrender," at Saratoga where Burgoyne's campaign came to its disastrous end. ... page 14/15, a 3 column letter written by Benjamin Franklin to Lord North, December 12, 1777 in which he chastises North in his discussions re the exchange of prisoners ... in part, "Col. Parker, a gentleman of rank, was thrown into a common gaol in Boston, covered over with wounds, where he perished unpitied, for want of the common comforts which his situation and humanity required.", and "Colonel Ethan Allan was dragged, in chains, from Canada to England, from England to Ireland, from Ireland to Carolina, and from thence to New York; at a time when the officers taken from you, in the same expedition, were treated not only with lenity, but every possible indulgence." ... and, "the barbarous treatment of Mr. Lovel, in Boston, has no parallel.9 Of the prisoners made in Fort Washington, two thirds of them perished by the unexampled cruelty and rigours of their captivity." ... and finally the threat, "It is with the greatest regret we mention these cruelties. For the honour of humanity we hope they will not be committed again. Your Lordship must know, that it is in the power of those we have the honour to represent, to make ample retaliation upon the numerous prisoners of all ranks in their possession; and we warn and beseech you not to render it their indispensible duty." ... page 15/16, "A Proclamation for a General Fast . George R." defends the action against the Colonies. In part, "...the just and necessary measures of force which we are obliged to use against our rebellious subjects in our Colonies and Provinces in North America ... His intervention and blessing speedily to deliver our loyal subjects within our Colonies and Provinces in North America from the violence, injustice, and tyranny of those daring Rebels who have assumed to themselves the exercise of arbitrary power ... those who have been deluded by specious falsehoods into acts of treason and rebellion; to turn the hearts of the authors of these calamities; and, finally, to restore our people in those distracted Provinces and Colonies to the happy condition of being free subjects of a free State ..."
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