JOURNALS OF CONGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1779: EIGHTEEN CONSECUTIVE WEEKLY ISSUES FROM 12 APRIL TO 14 AUGUST.
Philadelphia: Printed by David C. Claypoole, 1779. Each issue untrimmed, uncut, separately stitched as issued [except for the 31 May to 5 June 1779 issue, which is disbound]. All in a modern cloth folding case. Very Good plus.
1779 was the only year in which Congress's Journals were published on a weekly or monthly basis, rather than annually. Forty-one were published that year, each a rare separate imprint. A single volume was later reprinted from them in 1780. In 1779 David Claypoole issued the Journals of Congress as a monthly serial through March, and then as a weekly serial.
The weeklies overflow with significant military, economic, and political events relating to the ongoing Revolution. Among the most significant is the six-page Address on 26 May, "To the Inhabitants of the United States of America," signed in type at the end by John Jay, President of the Congress and Attested by Secretary Charles Thomson. The Address was also printed separately as a broadsheet, which ESTC 23853 [Evans 16636] describes as follows: "Concerning the economic impact of the war and the necessity for greater sums to be paid by the states to the Continental treasury. Written by John Dickinson." The Address urges, "Fill up your battalions-- be prepared in every part, to repel the incursions of your enemies..." ESTC locates a copy of the broadsheet only at the Library Company of Philadelphia.
A small sampling of other significant issues: Congress must deal with the unpleasantness which has "arisen among the late and present commissioners, namely, doctor Benjamin Franklin, Mr. Silas Deane, Mr. Arthur Lee, Mr. Ralph Izard, and Mr. William Lee." Votes are tallied on whether to recall Franklin as minister to France [the motion to recall failed]; "the enemy's ravages and devastations in Connecticut, and particularly of their burning the towns of Fairfield, Norwalk and Bedford;" domestic disturbances in Pennsylvania, General Sullivan's western expedition; admiralty claims, treasury and commissary general information, finances and munitions, prize captures, excessive issuance of bills of credit; concern that inhabitants of Bermuda, which is "guarded by British ships and garrisoned by British soldiers," are "in deep distress for want of provisions."
Evans 16589-16606. Item #40631
Price: $7,500.00