THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, May 10, 1760

• French and Indian War
• Governor Francis Fauquier
• Colonial America - colonies

Page 7 has over a full column headed: "America" "The Speech of the Hon. Francis Fauquier, Esq., Lieut. Gov. of Virginia, to the General Assembly of that Province".
In his address the governor gives reasons for disbinding the Va. regiment, noting in part: "...that Great Britain, notwithstanding the enormous debt under which she at present labour, is raising many millions for the service of the ensuing year; that notwithstanding the invasion with which she was threatened...she has never been backward in supporting & defending her colonies, but has like a true & tender mother, in part reimbursed them for the expenses they have been at in their own defence..." with more.
Eight pages, 8 by 10 3/4 inches, some scattered foxing, more so to the front page, good condition.

Background: This issue stands as a rare and significant piece of primary-source journalism, capturing British imperial policy and transatlantic relations at a crucial turning point in the French and Indian War. Its detailed, full-column report of Lieutenant Governor Francis Fauquier's address to the Virginia General Assembly provides invaluable contemporary insight into the fiscal strain on Great Britain and the strategic drawdown of provincial forces like the Virginia Regiment following major British triumphs at Quebec and Fort Duquesne. Historically, period reporting of colonial gubernatorial speeches in London newspapers is exceptionally scarce; back-and-forth maritime communications between Britain and North America took six to eight weeks, making full transcriptions of Williamsburg's legislative proceedings rare finds in English print. Furthermore, Fauquier's emotive framing of Great Britain as a "true & tender mother" reimbursing her colonies highlights the paternalistic imperial sentiment that prevailed just five years before the Stamp Act of 1765 drastically shattered that relationship, making this eight-page issue a prized document for scholars and collectors of colonial American and Seven Years' War history.