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Lot 9: 1778 Signed British Manuscript

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Lot    9: 1778 Signed British Manuscript
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>A London Trading Firm Begs The British Army To Invade Georgia!</b>

<b>(American Revolution) A major British trading firm uses every possible argument to plead with the Secretary of State for The Colonies to invade Georgia in 1778, </b>
Autograph Manuscript, being a True Copy of the Petition Made to the British Secretary of State for the American Colonies, Lord Germain, by John Nutt of the London firm of Higginson, Clark, Mulligan & Nutt, on “behalf of themselves & others interested in the Provinces of Georgia & South Carolina”; 3 pages, , 8” x 12.25” and hinge mounted to archival paper measuring 10.25 x 14.5”, London, November 19, 1778. Choice Extremely Fine.

In full: “That they have heard with great satisfaction that a Body of His Majesty’s Troops are intended to be sent to Georgia to reduce the disaffected People of that Province to a just Sense of their Duty and Allegiances, and not having the least doubt of their meeting with the desired Success, humbly beg leave to inform your Lordship, that they have great Reason to be assured that many of their Friends and Correspondents in Georgia, who are Loyal and well affected to His Majesty’s Government will rejoice at the Event, as it will give them what they have so long been desirous of, the pleasing prospect of having it in their Power to make Remittances for the payment of the large Debts, which they have contracted in Great Britain, and of sending here the produce of the Estates of Gentlemen resident among Us that has been committed to their Care and Management. This important matter they humbly beg to state to your Lordship, as an object of great Consequences and Utility, as it will not only give Relief to the Memorialists who have they humbly conceive, borne their very heavy and great distress, with a becoming and manly Fortitude, but will also give the greatest Encouragement to the Loyal and well affected in South Carolina, many of whom, we have good Ground to believe would find out the means of conveying their property to the Province of Georgia, in order to make payment of the debts they owe here, this would also give your Petitioning Sufferers and others further Relief, be the Cause of dividing the People there, and would be a great diminution of that Property so great a part whereof has fatally found its way to France - whereby the Congress have too well maintained their Credit in that Kingdom and by that polluted Source, have constantly received back those supplies which have enabled them to and support not only the Spirit, but the very Substance of Rebellion.”

Here the mercantile firm of Higginson, Clark, Mulligan & Nutt attempts to pressure a principal Minister to invade Georgia so that the powerful British and American Plantation owners might reoccupy their lands, resume shipments to Britain, and in the process pay debts owned the merchants!