Lot 1214

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Description:

THE BRITISH "CONSTITUTIONAL MISCELLANY" REPORTS ON REVOLUTIONARY WAR ACTIONS
Original British magazine, "The Constitutional Miscellany", 32pp. 8vo., [Fall, 1776], containing a section entitled "American Intelligence", presenting numerous interesting accounts of military actions between British military forces and American continental soldiers during the pivotal second year of the Revolutionary War. The first item reports the capture of an American privateer without a shot by a group of Hessian officers and soldiers who were aboard a British ship as passengers, and who overpowered their would-be American captors. This is followed by an account of the aftermath Battle of Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, which resulted in the expulsion of American forces from that province. A letter from Philadelphia reports: "The [Continental] Congress have removed their meetings since the arrival of the fleet at Staten Island to Lancaster, a town about sixty miles west of this city, where they now sit to do business..." This is followed by news that Virginia has elected Patriot orator Patrick Henry as its governor, and that he has issued a proclamation that all those who have fled Virginia as a result of the conflict are to return before a certain date, or else forfeit their estates and properties to be sold to fund the war against Britain. A brief mention is made of the capture of New York City by British forces under General William Howe, followed by accounts of fighting on the Chesapeake Bay between American forces and British troops under Lord Dunmore. A further intriguing note on the state of politics in the colonies also appears:"That the Maryland delegates, at first starting at the idea of declaring war against the mother country, had refused their assent, separated themselves from the Congress, and had returned home; but that their constituents, dissatisfied with their conduct, insisted on their immediate return, which they complied with, and afterwards not only acquiesced in the aforesaid vote, but in all subsequent councils of that popular convention... It is said that the Virginians have now modelled their government since the declaration of independency, and done it in such a manner as has proved disagreeable to the Congress, who have very freely declared their sentiments on that occasion, which has proved matter of great displeasure to the people of that colony..."The magazine includes a number of other articles of news from other parts of the world, short poems and literary essays, and a geographical sketch of Maryland among much else. Appended to the rear of the magazine is a two-page addition, printed on blue paper, purporting to give a more thorough description of British actions in the vicinity of Forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point. This account is disclaimed to be a fabrication at the end. Disbound.

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April 18, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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