THE GENERAL EVENING POST, London, Feb. 23, 1792  

* President George Washington
* "Wallace Oak Box" presentation 

The back page has a report of a gift to President Washington from Scotland, mentioned in a letter from Philadelphia. It notes: "...was presented to the President of the United States a box, elegantly mounted with silver & made of the celebrated oak tree that sheltered the Washington of Scotland, the brave & patriotic Sir William Wallace after his defeat at the battle of Falkirk..." with more.
Four pages, minor foxing, good condition.

background: The presentation of the Wallace Oak Box to George Washington in early 1792 was a profound symbolic gesture linking the American Revolution to the Scottish Wars of Independence. Sent by the Earl of Buchan, the box was crafted from the legendary "Wallace Oak" of Torwood, which purportedly provided sanctuary to Sir William Wallace following the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. By gifting this relic, Buchan intended to crown Washington as the "Wallace of the West," framing him as the spiritual heir to the Scottish patriot's legacy of resistance against tyranny. Washington, while deeply honored, found the Earl’s condition—that he eventually bequeath the box to the American citizen he deemed most worthy—to be an impossible burden of judgment. Consequently, in his 1799 last will and testament, Washington directed that the silver-mounted box be returned to the Earl, gracefully sidestepping the "delicate" task of choosing a successor while ensuring the artifact remained a testament to the shared democratic ideals of both nations.