Title: Autograph Letter signed by D. Godfrey, written to Philip Francis in India, describing many details of the growing conflict in America Author: Godfrey, D. Place: London Publisher: Date: Feb. 17 to May 21, 1776 Description: 12 pp., on three 4-page quarto sheets, 9x7½. Remarkable letter written to Philip Francis, reputed author of the famous “Junius Letters,” who was at this time serving on the governing council in India, and uncomfortably opposed to Warren Hastings, governor general of Bengal. Godfrey seems to be representing Francis in his affairs in London, offers some insight into this acrimonious relationship (“I feel for you, I know your situation is hardly bearable… Hastings sent Letters after the Anson by a Vessel which overtook her and of course he has the advantage of being the last Pleader, but I flatter myself that they will have no effect…”). He notes that at any rate “Time is all taken up with the Americans, and the Business of the East is comparatively too trivial to be attended to. Since I wrote last they have proceeded with the same success, of the transports we sent out to relieve Boston very few arrived there a few were lost some lost their passage and many have been taken by the Americans, and those the most valuable. Lord Dunmore…was the other day shamefully beat, without the loss of a single American, (he lost 112 men) and he himself driven on board a Man of War.” [This refers to the Battle of Great Bridge, Dec. 9, 1775, in Virginia]. “The Americans have likewise taken all Canada Quebeck excepted and that is besieged as well as Boston. A Party of the Guards are going to America 12000 Germans, the Army there will consist next summer of 40000 men. The Americans know it and they are not dismayed. The have acted hitherto by the Consent of all Parties with the greatest Wisdom and the greatest Courage…” He goes on to describe English acts of “Savage Barbarity,” though he notes that many of the colonial’s slaves were freed (“We have declared their Slaves free at least L. Dunmore has done it, and thereby encouraged them to Murder their Masters and commit every kind of violence”). The writer is definitely pro-American, and apparently Francis is not. The letter is written over a period of some three months, and much of it concerns the escalating war in America. It is docketed indicating it was received June 1777. Lot Amendments Condition: Slight smears to ink in a few places, a few traces of old mounting paper, slight splits at folds, else fine. Item number: 202591
Title: Autograph Letter signed by D. Godfrey, written to Philip Francis in India, describing many details of the growing conflict in America Author: Godfrey, D. Place: London Publisher: Date: Feb. 17 to May 21, 1776 Description: 12 pp., on three 4-page quarto sheets, 9x7½. Remarkable letter written to Philip Francis, reputed author of the famous “Junius Letters,” who was at this time serving on the governing council in India, and uncomfortably opposed to Warren Hastings, governor general of Bengal. Godfrey seems to be representing Francis in his affairs in London, offers some insight into this acrimonious relationship (“I feel for you, I know your situation is hardly bearable… Hastings sent Letters after the Anson by a Vessel which overtook her and of course he has the advantage of being the last Pleader, but I flatter myself that they will have no effect…”). He notes that at any rate “Time is all taken up with the Americans, and the Business of the East is comparatively too trivial to be attended to. Since I wrote last they have proceeded with the same success, of the transports we sent out to relieve Boston very few arrived there a few were lost some lost their passage and many have been taken by the Americans, and those the most valuable. Lord Dunmore…was the other day shamefully beat, without the loss of a single American, (he lost 112 men) and he himself driven on board a Man of War.” [This refers to the Battle of Great Bridge, Dec. 9, 1775, in Virginia]. “The Americans have likewise taken all Canada Quebeck excepted and that is besieged as well as Boston. A Party of the Guards are going to America 12000 Germans, the Army there will consist next summer of 40000 men. The Americans know it and they are not dismayed. The have acted hitherto by the Consent of all Parties with the greatest Wisdom and the greatest Courage…” He goes on to describe English acts of “Savage Barbarity,” though he notes that many of the colonial’s slaves were freed (“We have declared their Slaves free at least L. Dunmore has done it, and thereby encouraged them to Murder their Masters and commit every kind of violence”). The writer is definitely pro-American, and apparently Francis is not. The letter is written over a period of some three months, and much of it concerns the escalating war in America. It is docketed indicating it was received June 1777. Lot Amendments Condition: Slight smears to ink in a few places, a few traces of old mounting paper, slight splits at folds, else fine. Item number: 202591
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
