Beschreibung:

AMERICAN REVOLUTION]. OSWALD, Richard (1705-1784), British merchant, Chief Commissioner for Treaty of Paris. Manuscript "Plan for the Future Conduct of the American War," n.p. [London?], n.d., 23 June 1781." 33 pages, plus cover sheet with notation "Plan delivered 27 July 1781, and integral blank with title docket, the last two detached, otherwise in excellent condition. RICHARD OSWALD'S LOST SECOND PLAN FOR THE WAR IN AMERICA Evidently the only recorded copy of an important, very detailed proposal for the conduct of Great Britain's war in America, by Richard Oswald, a successful merchant, former slave trader, friend of American Henry Laurens and later British peace commissioner in Paris during the negotiations for the Treaty of Paris (Richard Morris in The Peacemakers , terms him a "visionary"). While actively involved in the importation of slaves, he had established close business and personal relations with Laurens, a patriot who succeeded Hancock as President of Congress and was captured by English warships enroute to Europe as an American diplomat. (Laurens was ultimately exchanged for Lord Cornwallis after his surrender at Yorktown.) Oswald also had valuable ties to influential government officials including Prime Minister Lord North, Lord Shelburne, Lord George Germain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, Henry Dundas and others. It was Shelburne who, in March 1782, selected Oswald as British peace commissioner to negotiate in Paris with Franklin, Jay and Adams, to conclude the Treaty which granted American independence in 1783. Although he had no official status until then, Oswald had on a number of occasions drafted recommendations regarding the costly and prolonged American conflict and circulated them to his influential government friends. These include one dated 16 August 1781 relating to the strategic significance of the Elizabeth River of Virginia (Univ, of Virginia Library), a 72-page "General Observations, relative to the present state of the war" drafted in August 1779 (Clements Library), and an unusual "Plan for an alliance with Russia, in order to carry on the American War (Clements); several others are cited in the bibliographical note to a modern edition of the first ( Richard Oswald's Memorandum On the Folly of Invading Virginia , ed. W.R. Robinson, Jr., Charlottesville, 1953, pp. 53-56). As Robinson speculated, "whether or not Oswald wrote another separate proposal between August 1779 and August 1781, has not been definitely determined. It seems likely that he did, but no such document has come to light" ( ibid. , p.48). The present is one of three copies of that plan, perhaps the sole surviving example, sent, an endorsement informs us, "to Gentlemen who have a right to decide in the matter of direction." A note on the bottom of page 32, notes "3 copies delivered." In his opening, Oswald notes that his observations "proceed upon a supposition that, as there never could be any prospect of succeeding in the Recovery of our Rights in that Country, but by a successive dismemberment of particular Colonies from the General Confederacy, so likewise, I am of the opinion that there is no likelihood of compleating the reduction of any one great Colony by Military Power alone, unaccompanied with the concurrence of a considerable part of the Inhabitants..." He believes that while the conflict rages,. "a fair & voluntary Representation of the People...an Assembly of legislature on the ancient Constitutional footing," cannot be convened, "it is proposed...to lay the foundation of the Recovery of these Colonies for the future in the civil power...taking the aid of the Troops when necessary for its support..." (pp.1-2). In the last paragraph on page 32 Oswald adds a comment, dated 18 July 1781, on a letter of Sir Henry Clinton. A copy of the Richard Oswald's Memorandum accompanies the manuscript.