Letters To the Right Honorable The Earl of Hillsborough, from Governor Bernard, General Gage, and The Honorable His Majesty's Council for the Province of Massachussets-Bay. With an Appendix, containing Divers Proceedings referred to in the Said Letters
Boston and London: Edes and Gill (and) Re-printed for J. Almon, 1769. First UK edition. Hardcover. Octavo in dark brown leather spine over marbled paper-covered boards with pale cream endpapers. (1) 165 (1). Howes B382, the first English edition (printed first in Boston and then in Salem, both also in 1769). This edition omits the "Extract from the vote...House of Commons, January 25, 1769" that appeared on pp. 82-83 in the first Boston edition. This copy does not contain the 8 pages of adverts noted in Hopwes. Boards worn at the edges and tips, original front free endpaper reattached, pages a bit toned. An important title from the period leading up to the outbreak of the American Revolution, representing communications from Massachusetts Bay Governor Francis Bernard and British General Thomas Gage, including descriptions of the difficulty in quartering the King's troops that were dispatched to Boston, dealings with the Sons of Liberty and with less radical committees, Gage's recounting of his transfer from New York to Boston, etc. A good portion of the book also contains communications from the Massachusetts Bay Council "in vindication of themselves and the Province against the calumnies and misrepresentations of his Excellency Francis Bernard.." The Earl of Hillsborough (Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire) was the Secretary of State for the the Colonies from 1768 to 1772 having earlier served as President of the Board of Trade and Plantations under Lord Grenville. He was strongly opposed to any concessions to the American colonies. Very Good. Item #E13754
Price: $4,800.00