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The treaty whereby Cornwallis surrendered to Washington, with great commentary in Parliament...



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December 08, 1781

THE NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE, England, Dec. 8, 1781 

* Treaty of Peace
* Lord Cornwallis capitulation
* General George Washington
* Revolutionary War closing events


The front page has an: "Account of the number of British & German troops, and of ships of war, surrendered at Yorktown...".
But then the great document is on page 2 which prints the: "ARTICLES of CAPITULATION entered into between his Excellency Gen. Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Armies of America and France....and the Right Hon. Earl Cornwallis, Lt.-General of the Forces of his Britannic Majesty...in York River, in Virginia...". What follows are all 14 Articles of the treaty by which Cornwallis surrendered his entire army to the French & American, essentially ending any hope of the British retaining the American colonies. The document is signed at its conclusion by: Cornwallis and T. Symonds, the latter being the senior naval office of the British Navy.
This is one of the more notable documents to come from the Revolutionary War.
As an added treat, page 4 has reports from Parliament where there was much discussion concerning the war and Cornwallis' surrender (see photos). A few bits include: "...His Lordship reprobated the American war in the strongest terms...Lord Stormont was for going on with the American war; the importance of America to this country was too great to be given up...the object of the war not to subdue America, but to enable, by vigorous exertions, the numerous friends to this country in America, to reduce the Rebels who had seized the government...The next point he touched upon as the fate of the unfortunate Loyalists, who, bu the 10th article of the capitation of Lord Cornwallis, were left to the mercy of the civil government. These poor deluded men...had been basely, treacherously, infamously iniquitously trepanned by false pretenses of protection..." and much more.
Four pages, never bound nor trimmed, folio size, minimal wear at margins, full red tax stamp on page 3, very small hole at the central fold of the front leaf not touching any American content. Generally nice condition with a handsome masthead.

Category: Revolutionary War