-
- Papers Relating to America Presented to the House of Commons
Papers Relating to America Presented to the House of Commons, 1809.
Anon.
A. Strahan, ( 1810), London
21 cm. viii, 178, (4 index) pp.
Price: $250
These papers relate primarily to the sea battle between the British warship “HMS Leopard” and the American frigate “USS Chesapeake,” that took place in 1807 off the coast of Virginia. “Leopard” attacked and boarded the American ship, searching for British deserters. “Chesapeake” was unprepared for battle and her commander, James Barron, surrendered her to the Brits. The uproar surrounding this event led to Jefferson’s embargo of 1807. Manuscript inscription on title page reads, “The Earl of Liverpool…” and the complete title corrected in manuscript reads, “Papers not laid before the Lords Relating to America.” Robert Banks Jenkinson was the Earl of Liverpool and the Secretary of State for the Colonies at this time. “Contents – Papers relating to the encounter between His Majesty’s ship Leopard, and the American frigate Chesapeake. Correspondence between Mr. Secretary Canning and Mr. Pinkney, from September 23, to November 28, 1808. Instructions to the Honourable D.M. Erskine, by Mr. Secretary Canning; and the correspondence between the Honourable D.M. Erskine, and the Honourable Robert Smith.” See Howes, P-60, who points out that this collection “Relates largely to the Leopard and Chesapeake affair.” (That section occupies 106 pages.) Bound in cloth over marbled boards with paper spine label. Endpapers renewed. Very good condition.
