Beschreibung:

CRÈVECOEUR. Autograph manuscript signed ("H.S.J."), of a section of the original manuscript for his "Voyage dans la Haute Pensylvanie dans L'Etat de New York" (published 1801). n.p., [ca.1795-1800]. 71 pages, folio and small 4to, the sheets loosely enclosed in contemporary calf-backed pasteboards (with a Parisian stationer's printed label). [With:] An engraved map of Captain Carver's travels in the interior parts of North America. 13¾ x 18 3/8 in. ; An original ink and watercolor map of the "Elision [Elysian] Fields" in Pennsylvania. 8¾ x 14 3/8 in, small portion detached .; An engraved map of the junction of the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers, with manuscript caption in French. 7 1/16 x 10 5/8 in. THE ONLY EXTANT PORTION OF CRÈVECOEUR'S ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT FOR HIS "JOURNEY INTO NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA" INCLUDING THE DEDICATION TO GEORGE WASHINGTON Crèvecoeur's original manuscript for portions of his book Journey into Northern Pennsylvania and the State of New York , which was published in 1801. Crèvecoeur began writing the book, which he considered to be a sequel to Letters , with high expectations. Unfortunately, the book did not reach the heights that he anticipated; "its reception was disappointing despite favorable reviews in such influential papers as the quasi-official Moniteur ...The times were not favorable" (Allen and Asselineau, p. 195). This manuscript appears to be from the early stages of his intense effort and includes a selection of Crèvecoeur's substantial notes, portions of chapters, a 6-page abstract of a section of volume 2, a 12-page discussion of William Penn, and the first draft of Crèvecoeur's reverent dedication of the book to George Washington. Revisions by the author appear throughout. The one-page dedication to Washington appears as the first page of the manuscript and has been signed with the author's initials and dated Philadelphia, 8 January 1794. Crèveceour maintained a correspondance with many influential Americans while in France, including Washington: "he was as great an admirer of the hero-general as the most patriotic Americans" (Allen and Asselineau, p. 106). The dedication of Journey reflects this. In the forward to the book, Crèvecoeur explained his motives: "Although the newspapers have just informed us of the death of the founder of the independence of the United States, it is to commemorate a man so justly famous, as well as to conform with the intentions of the unknown author, that I believe I should include the dedication in the translation." Within the dedication, Crèvecoeur lists Washington's accomplishments from 1775 to his election to the office of President of the United States and closes with an emotional touch: "Deeply touched by the sentiment of your virtues, I pray that you accept this work with respect and reverence as the only public testimony that can be given." Crèvecoeur has made few revisions in this first draft of a dedication and his handwritten version varies only slightly from the published form. The extensive notes that Crèvecoeur included in Journey are included in their original form for at least five chapters. This appears to be Crèvecoeur's first draft as the notes often appear substantially different from the published form, and suggests that the order and arrangement of the manuscript was substantially altered before publication. In the manuscript, Crèvecoeur identifies one section as the notes for Chapter 4, when in fact, as published, they appear in Chapter 6 in volume 1. In this same chapter, note 1 does not appear in published form within the chapter, neither does note 4 (on Montreal), note 6 (Oppoygan) while others have been substantially altered. In other cases, the notes are found scattered in different chapters and volumes within the book. Also included with the manuscript are three maps, one of them carefully hand-drawn, that Crèvecoeur may have intended to use in the book. One, based upon a 1791 survey, is a colored map of the Elysian Fields o