Beschreibung:

[American Revolutionary War]Manuscript Spanish translation of British Parliamentary debates following General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga, November 1777, entitled "Grandes Debates del Parliamento de Ynglaterra," translated and written by De Don Josef Antonio de Armona. [Madrid: 1778] Folio (290 x 198). Autograph manuscript, 103 pages, manuscript title-page, ink written on Italian paper; blue library stamps of Dr. Jorge Beato Nunez on several leaves. Bound in 18th-century Spanish tree calf, spine with raised bands in 7 compartments, 2nd compartment with red morocco label lettered in gilt, others with repeat gilt decoration, boards with roll-tooled gilt borders, gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers; some loss at head and tail of spine, hinges a bit loose, boards rubbed, corners exposed. A notable Spanish record of the British Parliament's reaction to General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga This manuscript chronicles the Parliamentary proceedings in the wake of reports of Burgoyne's surrender to General Haratio Gates on 17 October 1777. This landmark event in the Revolutionary War, which stopped the British from separating New England from the rest of the colonies, was one of the deciding factors in establishing support for the American Revolution in both France and Spain. The volume was compiled by De Don Josef Antonio de Armona, who attributes to himself the title Coregidor [sic] de la Villa de Madrid, and is executed in a handsome italic hand. He lists on the title-page the subjects of the debates, here translated: "the Battle of Saratoga, in which the entire English army, commanded by General Burgoñe, was taken as prisoners of war; Parliamentary review of the state of the nation; of the expenses of the war; of the army and naval forces available for the continuation of the war; and on the conduct of ministers. Proposed bills and decrees agreed to by the King, to treat peace with the colonies, dispatching to them (as they dispatched) authorized commissioners." The title-page then notes, with flourish and bold underlines: "The Colonies, now denominated: The United States of America, defeated the English power and by solemn act in its general assembly, declared itself a free and independent sovereign power in the same year of 1778 [sic]." Though Spain had secretly provided aid to the Americans in the form of loans and military supplies as early as 1776, the nation was reluctant to openly declare war against the British, largely due to concern for the Revolution's implications for their own colonies—fearing that a sovereign United States might threaten their interests, both in power and example. However, given their involvement and pressure to ally with the French, reports on the war and the debates in Parliament were intensively reviewed by the Spanish government—and the present volume was likely compiled for those very inquests. The volume includes the text of the full convention of surrender between Burgoyne and Gates, a roster of the dead, wounded, and captured at Saratoga, correspondence between Gates and Burgoyne, resolutions of Lord Shelburne, George III, Chatham, and a letter of Louis XVI to George II on American independence. On the whole, it is a remarkable historical document, showcasing the the political situation in Spain leading up to its alliance with France in 1779. PROVENANCE:Dr. Jorge Beato Nunez (library stamps)