Beschreibung:

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR]. PITT, WILLIAM, 1708-1778, First Earl of Chatham . Letter signed ("W Pitt") as British Secretary of State, to "the Governor & Company of Rhode Island," Whitehall, [London], 9 December 1758. 7 1/2 pages, folio, 301 x 192mm. (11 7/8 x 7 1/4 in.), neatly sewn at left margin, a few minor fold separations , written in a bold clerical hand, marked "Duplicate." LORD PITT'S ORDERS FOR AN INVASION OF FRENCH CANADA: "INVAD[E] CANADA...AND CARRY...WAR INTO THE HEART OF THE ENEMY" A detailed official communication directing Rhode Island to prepare for a new campaign against French Canada: "His Majesty having nothing so much at Heart, as to improve the great & important Advantages gained the last Campaign; as well as to repair the Disappointment at Ticonderoga; & by the most vigorous & extensive Exports, to avert, by the Blessing of God on his Arms, all Dangers which may threaten North America...His Majesty considering, that the several Provinces, in particular, from Proximity & Accessibility of Situation; more immediately obnoxious to the main Irruptions of the Enemy from Canada, are...able to furnish...[20,000]...Men...for invading Canada, by the way of Crown Point, and Carrying War into the Heart of the Enemy's Possessions...and, if found practicable, to attack either Montreal, or Quebeck, or both of the said Places, successively, with the whole Force in one Body, or at one & the same Time... "The King is further pleased to furnish all the Men...with Arms, Ammunition, & Tents, as well as to Order Provisions...A sufficient Train of Artillery will also be provided...The whole, therefore, that His Majesty expects & requires from the several Provinces, is, the Levying, Cloathing, & Pay, of the Men...It is His Majesty's Pleasure, that you do, with particular Diligence, immediately called, & put into the best Condition, all the Arms, issued last Campaign, which can be any ways rendered serviceable, or that can be found within your Government...I am, at the same Time, to acquaint You, that a reasonable Supply of Arms will be sent from England...I am further to inform you, that similar Orders are sent...to Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York...New Jersey [and] The Southern States...It is Unnecessary to add anything to animate your Zeal in the Execution of His Majesty's Orders, on this Great Occasion, where the future Safety & Welfare of America are at Stake..." Lord Pitt was responsible for reorganizing the army in British North America, which had been largely unsuccessful against the French during the early years of the French and Indian War. Upon Pitt's reorganization, however, the British colonial army's strategy became more aggressive: the British broke the French line of communcation with the Ohio region in Spring 1758, Quebec surrendered on 13 September 1759 and Montreal fell just one year later. The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1763, formally ended the war, leaving the British supreme in North America.