Description:

Revolutionary War - Revolutionary War period ALS, Britain focuses on clothes while the Colonies debate Independence.

Single page ALS on laid paper, 8" x 12.5". Dated "War Office 1st July, 1776" and signed by the Secretary Of War "Barrington" (William Wildman Barrington). Inscribed recto with verso blank. Uneven toning with expected folds. Verso reinforced with tape along outer edges and folds, with small intact tear along right edge. Beautiful strongly contrasting ink, with small notes in graphite.

A phenomenal ALS penned by the British Secretary of War, during the 'eye of the storm' with the U.S. It would be on this very day, across the Atlantic, that the Colonies' Congressman were in a highly heated debate about proceeding to become independent from Great Britain. However, this rather naive, somewhat clueless letter from British Secretary of War Barrington, speaks of clothing for their military " ... the King's pleasure that notwithstanding any former Orders, you cause the entire Clothing of the 15th Regiment of Foot ... to be provided for the present year ... His Majesty has been pleased to give this direction in consequence ... that no dependence was to be had on the Clothier in that Kingdom being able to prepare the whole of the particulars ordered there by the first of August next...". While the British were attending to their "clothes", the United Colonies were experiencing Congress in the midst of raging debate seeking independence from Britain with clothing the furthest thing from their minds. One can only imagine these two worlds were parallel universes about to collide! The very next day the Colonies declared their Independence.

July 1st, in budding America, a motion was on the floor by Virginian Richard Henry Lee which read as follows:

"...That these United Colonies are, and of a right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." What ensued was a passionate debate between two major figures, a debate officially unrecorded, as all the deliberations of this Congress and the Constitutional Convention were. Opposing the resolution was Pennsylvania delegate John Dickinson, who led off the debate. He argued that the colonies were unprepared to survive the consequences of declaring independence, and compared such action "to brav[ing] the storm in a skiff made of paper." Rising to speak for the resolution was Massachusetts delegate John Adams, whose hour-long presentation was reported by many other delegates to have demonstrated "not only the justice, but the expediency of the measure." After Adams, the discussion continued, lasting a total of nine hours.

But when a preliminary vote was taken, the outcome appeared very much in doubt. Nine delegations voted in favor, providing a majority, but four withheld support. Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted no, while New York abstained, and Delaware had no delegates on hand to vote. A motion to postpone consideration until the next day was entertained, and approved. Clearly, lack of support from two of the largest colonies, Pennsylvania and New York, would not set the new nation off on the right foot. But, by the time the vote was called on July 2, the situation had changed. Most importantly, two of the Declaration's opponents in Pennsylvania, most notably John Dickinson, stayed away, permitting the pro-independence voters to gain a majority. Secondly, Delaware's Caesar Rodney arrived, after an all-night ride, to cast his vote for independence. South Carolina decided to join in to make it unanimous, while New York continued to abstain, on the basis that the delegates had no specific instructions from back home.

On July 2, the American colonies declared independence.

What now remained was the need to adopt the formal Declaration, which Thomas Jefferson had been entrusted to write on behalf of the drafting committee. The review of Jefferson's draft began first thing on the morning of July 3. It took until 11:00 a.m. July 4, and then the deed was finalized. Delegates from 12 colonies voted up the Declaration, with only New York abstaining.

A very thought provoking letter, showing the dichotomy of these two worlds and making one wish they could hop in a time machine and watch these events unfold.

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