Description:

Boston Newspaper Proclaims the End of the Revolutionary War

"we hereby strictly charge and command all our Officers, both by Sea and Land, and other Subjects of these United States, to forbear all Acts of Hostility, either by Sea or by Land, against His Britannic Majesty or his Subjects...."

On April 11, 1783, Congress issued a proclamation declaring "the Cessation of Arms, as well by Sea as by Land" between the United States and Great Britain, and the proclamation is included in full here, signed in print by Confederation Congress President Elias Boudinot. Four days later, Congress ratified the preliminary articles of peace with Great Britain, signed in Paris on November 30, 1782.

The masthead features a Continental soldier holding a sword in one hand and a scroll reading "Independence" in the other. A banner over him reads, "Appeal to Heaven."

[REVOLUTIONARY WAR]. The Independent Chronicle, and the Universal Advertiser, April 24, 1783 (Vol. XV, No. 585). Boston: Nathaniel Willis. 4 pp., 11.25" x 16.75". Expert and loving restoration mostly to edges but also some loss infilled; very good appearance.

Excerpts
"By the United States of America in Congress assembled, A PROCLAMATION, Declaring the Cessation of Arms, as well by Sea as by Land, agreed upon between the United States of America, and His Britannic Majesty; and enjoining the Observance thereof.
"Whereas Provisional Articles were signed at Paris, on the Thirtieth Day of November last, between the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, for treating of Peace, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of His Britannic Majesty, to be inserted in and to constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the United States of America and His Britannic Majesty, when Terms of Peace should be agreed upon between their Most Christian and Britannic Majesties...." (p3/c2)

"And, whereas it is our Will and Pleasure, that the Cessation of Hostilities, between the United States of America, and His Britannic Majesty, should be conformable to the Epochs fixed between their Most Christian and Britannic Majesties:
"We have thought fit to make known the same to the Citizens of these States; and we hereby strictly charge and command all our Officers, both by Sea and Land, and other Subjects of these United States, to forbear all Acts of Hostility, either by Sea or by Land, against His Britannic Majesty or his Subjects from and after the respective Times agreed upon between their Most Christian and Britannic Majesties as aforesaid." (p3/c3)

"Independence and peace, which have been the objects of eight years severe contest, the ardent and constant desire of every American breast, are at length arrived; and each heart ought to glow with gratitude to the divine ruler of the universe for so great a blessing; but like all sublunary enjoyments, even these, the summit of our wishes, have come with their alloy. The article of giving the renegadoes, or tories, a temporary residence among us, is a bitter ingredient in the cup of happiness; and I am confident, from the known character of our worthy commissioners, they never would have consented to it, had there been any mode to have avoided it, but by a continuation of the calamities of war...." (p1/c1)

Historical Background
Negotiators began discussions to bring the American Revolutionary War to an end in Paris in April 1782. They drafted a treaty on November 30, 1782, which the Confederation Congress approved in April 1783. Congress then issued a proclamation to all the citizens of the United States.

In Boston, Governor John Hancock received a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Philadelphia enclosing the proclamation on the morning of April 23. Suffolk County Sheriff Joseph Henderson read the proclamation from the balcony of the State House at 1 p.m. on April 24. The large group of people gathered there gave "three loud huzzas" to show their approval, and thirteen cannon were fired from the fortresses at the Castle and at Fort Hill.

In British-occupied New York City, by contrast, the announcement was met by "groans and hisses" and "bitter reproaches and curses upon their king for having deserted them in the midst of their calamities." (p3/c3-4) The last British soldiers did not leave New York until November 25, 1783.

Representatives of King George III and the United States did not sign the final Treaty of Paris until September 3, 1783. The Confederation Congress, temporarily convened at Annapolis, Maryland, ratified the Treaty of Paris on January 14, 1784.

Additional Content
This issue also includes a resolution of Congress on the national flag: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States, be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: That the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." (p2/c2); news of the end of the Inquisition in Spain: "The Jews are now allowed to live in Spain on the same footing as in France." (p3/c1); and a variety of additional international and national news, notices, and advertisements.

The Independent Chronicle and the Universal Advertiser (1776-1840) was a weekly, then semi-weekly, newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts. Published under various titles in Salem and Cambridge, the newspaper settled in Boston in 1776 as The Independent Chronicle. Later in 1776, it became The Independent Chronicle, and the Universal Advertiser, a title that it carried until 1801. Publishers included Edward E. Powars and Nathaniel Willis (1755-1831). Willis left the Independent Chronicle in 1784 and settled in Virginia and then Ohio, where he published the Scioto Gazette, the first newspaper published in the Northwest Territory. Thomas Adams (c. 1757-1799) and John Nourse (ca. 1762-1790) purchased the newspaper in 1784 and published it until Nourse's death. Adams continued publication until 1799, at times with partner Isaac Larkin (d. 1797). Abijah Adams and Ebenezer Rhoades published the newspaper from 1799 to 1817, when others purchased and continued the newspaper.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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