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King George III

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
King George III

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Auction Date:2012 Jul 18 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 until his death in 1820. His reign was marked most notably by the loss of British control over the American colonies. Advancing mental illness rendered George unable to fulfill his official duties during the last decade of his life, during which time the Prince Regent, William IV, ruled in his stead. Autograph letter, one page, 4.5 x 7.25, February 12, 1782. George writes to Lord Stormont. In full: “The two Notes Ld. Stormont has drawn up, and which He means to deliver tomorrow to the Russian Minister are very judicious but one cannot help lamenting at the strange conduct of that Court that can be driving on a system that has neither justice, reason, nor policy for its foundation.” In good condition, with mild overall toning and soiling, staining along right edge (touching several words of the text), and partial separations along folds (tape-reinforced on the reverse). The writing is dark, clear, and legible.

Britain was in the midst of negotiating a peace treaty with her original Thirteen Colonies when she declared war with the Netherlands in 1780. Despite an alliance with Russia, Catherine the Great had informed Dutch officials that Russia would not necessarily guarantee protection of their ships on the high seas under a neutrality agreement. While British ships captured or destroyed Dutch vessels they believed to be trading with Britain's enemies during the Revolutionary War, the king was careful not to provoke Catherine’s wrath, as the actions could have led to an all out war with Russia. Thus, he dispatched Lord Stormont to do what he could to placate her, including considering giving Russia control of the Mediterranean island Minorca. Through it all, King George was leery of any affairs with Russia, here noting his skepticism of the country and its tyranny, a “system that has neither justice, reason, nor policy for its foundation.”