2021-02 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/6/2021
A complete and authentic issue of The Federal Gazette, Baltimore, August 18, 1796, disbound, 4pp., rag paper, VG. From page 3 and running 1-1/2 columns is "An Act for the Relief and Protection of American Seamen" which is signed in type "Go: Washington, President of the United States." Also some RUNAWAY SLAVE ads. From the American Revolution on, the issue of British impressment of American seamen grow. The practice had been in place on the part of the British since it was legalized in 1563 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Impressment was one of the issues leading to the negotiation of Jay's Treaty in 1794, although it was an issue that remained unresolved by the treaty. The main parts of the treaty, effective for 10 years after its ratification in 1796, created a period of relative peace between the two countries, brought on by the favored nation trading status agreed upon in the negotiations. Yet the issue of impressment remained a pressing one, still causing tensions between the two countries. In May, 1796, Congress passed An Act for the Relief and Protection of American Seamen, to address the ongoing issue of impressment. With this Act, Congress created a position, to be filled by Silas Talbot, meant to secure the return of seamen from the British and to design a policy to prevent the situation in the future. The act would be followed by other acts for the protection of U.S. shipping interests against foreign intervention.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.