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All the "what ifs" of the war... Asking the King to end the war with America...



Item # 666751

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December 06, 1781

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, Dec. 6, 1781 

* Post Surrender of Cornwallis
* Should the British continue the war ?
* General Benedict Arnold


Being  a week or more since the news of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown reached Parliament, this issue has a considerable amount of discussion from the: "House Of Commons", which includes various talk on the Revolutionary War, with some reflective thoughts on continuing the war, on what when wrong, etc.
One portion talks of Benedict Arnold's actions in America, noting: "...It was really a matter of astonishment that the English should act in a manner to provoke retaliation; yet so it was, that at the very time Lord Cornwallis was surrounded with 42 pieces of heavy artillery, when he could not so much as shew the nose of a gun to the enemy, General Arnold was employed in burning shops and houses in New Hampshire; and this species of warfare was unknown even to General Arnold till he joined the British standard...that by the most unheard of article, Lord Cornwallis was obliged to strengthen the flank of his capitulation in order to screen his troops from all reprisals under the idea of retaliation...".
Later on is: "...Tobago would not have been left at liberty to bring upon us the dreadful disaster in the Chesapeak..." and "...If the Admiral in America had met Sir Samuel Hood near the Chesapeak, the probability was that de Grasse would have been defeated, and the surrender of Lord Cornwallis prevented."
The back page has a report from "London" which notes in part the historic idea of ending the Revolutionary War, with: "...came forward and moved that an Address, petition, and remonstrance be presented to his Majesty on the present alarming state of affairs. The motion being seconded, the question was put and unanimously carried. The address was then read and approved: The purport of which was, to pray his Majesty to withdraw his troops from American and put an end to the American war as speedily as possible as the most effectual means of restoring the trade & commerce of this kingdom to its former flourishing state...". There is more talk concerning America as well.
Eight pages, 8 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches, small piece from a front leaf margin affects no mentioned reports, nice condition.

Category: Revolutionary War