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1779 First Edition Printing Being a Revolutionary War Period Critique of British Navy Admiral Richard Howe

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1779-Dated Revolutionary War Period, First Edition Printing titled: “A LETTER TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD VISCOUNT H(OW)E, ON THIS NAVAL CONDUCT IN THE AMERICAN WAR.”, by Joseph Galloway and printed in London for J. Wilkie, Complete, Choice Very Fine.

A historically important original contemporary 1779 War Date 18th Century treatise, written by the noted American statesman and leading Loyalist Joseph Galloway, and printed in London for J. Wilkie. The author Joseph Galloway criticizes the actions of the brilliant British Navy Admiral Richard Howe during the ongoing American Revolution. Galloway had been openly critical of the Admiral, charging him with misconduct in his failed operations of the ongoing American Revolutionary War.

Howe's conduct is examined at a time when he was battling both the French fleet and the smaller American forces. This rare book remains in very nice condition, bound in pamphlet format and in later plain blue-green wraps. There is some scattered foxing, yet generally clean internally. All in all, this desirable treatise remains very presentable. This important Imprint has 50 pages with a separate half-title and a rear advertising leaf. It measures about 5" x 8.25" x .25" thick. This influential critique includes a listing of the British and American Naval Ship Engagements between 1776 to 1777. This rarely encountered copy is complete with the half-title and the terminal ad leaf. SEE: Howes G42; Sabin 26435.


Joseph Galloway (1731-1803) was a Delegate to the First Continental Congress from Pennsylvania, and was later an influential American British “Loyalist” during the Revolutionary War.

Born at West River in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, he moved to Pennsylvania in 1740, where he received a liberal schooling. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and practiced in Philadelphia. Galloway was a Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1757-75 and served as Speaker of the House from 1766-74.

Galloway was a member of the Continental Congress in 1774, where he proposed a compromise plan for Union with Great Britain which would provide the colonies with their own parliament subject to the Crown, "Plan of a Proposed Union between Great Britain and the Colonies."

He signed the Non-Importation Agreement, but was opposed to Independence of the Thirteen colonies and remained loyal to the King. A resident of cosmopolitan Philadelphia and an associate of Benjamin Franklin, Galloway was throughout his career a British-American nationalist, believing that the British Empire offered a citizen greater liberties than any nation on earth.

Galloway urged reform of the imperial administration and was critical of the trade laws, the Stamp Act of 1765, and the Townshend Acts enacted in 1767; and as early as 1765 he had a conciliatory plan to end the disputes between England and the colonies.

In December of 1776, Galloway joined the British General Howe and accompanied him on his capture of Philadelphia. During the British occupation, he was appointed Superintendent of Police, and headed the civil government. He had a reputation as a highly efficient administrator, but one who repeatedly interfered in military affairs. He aggressively organized the Loyalists in the city, but was dismayed when the British army decided to abandon the city.

When the British army withdrew, he went with them, and, in 1778, moved to London. There he became influential in convincing the British that a vast reservoir of Loyalist support could be tapped by aggressive leadership, thus setting up the British invasion of the South. The General Assembly of Pennsylvania convicted him of Treason and confiscated his estates.

Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe (1726-1799) was a celebrated British Admiral and a member of one of England's most famous military families. His brother William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe (1729-1814) was Commander-in-Chief of British forces during the Revolutionary War.

At the start of the War, Admiral Howe was thought to be sympathetic to the American colonists. He had known Benjamin Franklin and had written to Franklin in a peacemaking effort. Because of his known sentiments, he was selected to command naval forces in America. He was joined by his brother, General Sir William Howe, head of the land forces, to attempt a reconciliation. A committee appointed by the Second Continental Congress conferred with the Howes in September of 1776, but nothing came of it.

The appointment of a new peace commission in 1778 deeply offended the Admiral, and he resigned from his command. His resignation was reluctantly accepted but before it could take effect, as France declared War, and a powerful French squadron was sent to America under the Comte d'Estaing.

Greatly outnumbered and forced to take a defensive stance, Howe nevertheless baffled the French admiral at Sandy Hook, and defeated d'Estaing's attempt to take Newport, Rhode Island by brilliant maneuvering which combined caution and calculated daring. Upon Admiral John Byron's arrival from England with reinforcements, Howe left his station in September 1778.

Declining to serve afterwards, he cited distrust of British officials and a lack of support during his command in America. He was further embittered by the dismissal of himself and his brother as peace commissioners, as well as unwarranted by attacks in the British press against him.

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Lot Number: 148
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