John Gunning, A.L.S. Camp on the Heights Charlestown 17th July 1775: to Alexander Dick Prestonfield , Edinburgh.

John Gunning, A.L.S. Camp on the Heights Charlestown 17th July 1775: to Alexander Dick Prestonfield , Edinburgh.

Charlestown, [Mass] 1775

[3] p. on 2 conjugate leaves ; 31 cm.

MSS L2011F56

Written by Captain of the British army (43rd Regiment of Foot, later Colonel of the 65th & Lieut.-General)) during the siege of Boston, expressing contempt of the American "habituated by notions of independence ... the same spirit shews itself from Nova Socita to the Carolinas; burning with the fiercest flame in Philadelphia, New York and New England. The people indolent in all but mischief, base, treacherous and cunning ..." & claiming the British army's confident victory, despite the British casualities at Bunker Hill a month earlier: "every officer and solider in this army insures victory to himself whenver order to attack ,,,"
The recipient, Sir Alexander Dick (formerly Cunyngham) was the friend of Boswell & pillar of the Scottish enlightenment.
Docketed on verso: "Sir Alesander Dick Preson Field near Edinburgh. By London ..." with ship letter postmark & ms. postal marking (1/1d to pay).
Digitized image available, see URL.

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