Montcalm

1777 · 48517 — London: J. Almon 1777. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. First edition. 8vo. Pp. 3 28 28 1. Half-title in English English and French title-pages text in French and English throughout. Some leaves are larger and folded at the margins many with notes in a contemporary hand. Crescent shaped stain to the half-title faint on the English title-page. Some faint marginal staining to a few pages. A few little holes noticeable in the gutter margins at pages 13 with some puncture holes from the original sewing also visible throughout. Bound in brown library cloth with gilt stamped title on the spine. These rare and celebrated letters have been the subject of continual controversy since their publication. The three letters purport to be written by Montcalm between 1757 and 1759 the last within a month of his death. They contain observations about events in the colonies and they predict and American revolt. The letters were hotly debated in the British Parliament when they appeared and their authenticity disputed. The weight of the evidence indicates that the letters are propaganda written at the start of the Revolutionary War to encourage French involvement. Subsequently in 1778 the pivotal alliance between France and the United States was formed. This copy contains extensive and informed criticisms in a contemporary hand by a member of a 'ministry' and a Tory native to America. He points out that the author of the letters was familiar with the Stamp Act and the Quebec Bill events after Montcalm's death. The critic comments on his own extensive knowledge of New York and New Jersey and the 'Present Disturbances'. The work itself later was considered to be proven spurious by F. Parkman's paper of 1869 in the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Sabin 50091. Howes M734. Gagnin 2418. TPL 289. With laid-in description from former American Book seller Kenneth Nebenzahl this copy sold by him before turning up at auction in 2015. J. Almon hardcover