LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2006 October Grand Format Autographs #629  / 

25291

Lord Stirling Autograph Letter Signed.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Lord Stirling Autograph Letter Signed.
<B>Lord Stirling Autograph Letter Signed</B></I> "<I>Stirling</B></I>". Six pages, 7.25" x 9", New York, New York, February 11, 1762. This letter was written on the strategic importance of the British capturing Havana from the Spanish during the French and Indian War. Lord William Alexander Stirling was a commander in the French and Indian War as well as the Revolutionary War; he even crossed the Delaware with Washington. This extraordinarily extensive, historic personal letter is written to an unknown Lord in London. Lord Stirling defends his title, discusses politics, the British attack on the Island of Martinica, his future plans, mapping the Great Lakes region, the marriage of the King and the great strategic importance of the British capturing Havana, and much more. It reads in part: "<I>I must beg leave to Congratulate your Lordship on the happy Event of His Majesty's Marriage to a Princess so truely worthy of that high station as the world universally proclaim her to be. I must also Congratulate your Lordship on the Success His Majesty's Arms have already met with in the Attack of the Island of Martinica; the troops assembled at their rendezvous without any accident, left Barbados the 2d. of January, made good their landing near Cape Solomon on Martinica the 6; with very little loss; the opposition made by the enemy being triflingAfter the reduction of this Island our force there will (in case of a Spanish War) be sufficient to take the Town & Port of Havanah; the possession of that Port would enable us at once to cut off the Spanish trade to all MexicoSince my return to America, I have met with many mew Materials, that will enable me to extend my Map much further into the Interior parts of the Country, where we find the French Travelers have not been so accurate in their Survey's as we might have expected. I purpose next Summer to make a Journey round all the Great Lakesafter which I intend to finish my Map so far and to do myself the honour of sending your Lordships a copy of it with the measure of a Degree of latitude on Hudson's River which I am now preparing to execute.</B></I>" A most important and historic letter of intrigue with great overall content spanning many themes. Comes with a steel-plate engraving of Lord Stirling by G.P. Putnam & Co. of New York. The letter is in very fine condition, with light soiling visible on all pages, a small worn area on page 1 near the right edge, and a small tear in the main fold which affects all pages.
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