Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney Papers: Finding Aid mssTownshend

Brooke M. Black

The Huntington Library

August 2022

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Business Number: (626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library

Title: Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney papers

Creator: Sydney, Thomas Townshend, Viscount, 1733-1800

Identifier/Call Number: mssTownshend

Physical Description: 2.58 Linear Feet (1 box, 3 volumes, 1 tan envelope)

Date (inclusive): 1765-1787

Abstract: Papers belonging to British Whig statesman Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney.

Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

RESTRICTED: Volumes 2 and 3: Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.

Conditions Governing Use

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The volumes were purchased from Charles J. Sawyer, Ltd., 1916-1918. Letters by George III (1784) and other items purchased from Anderson Galleries, 1917-1919. Two items purchased from Maggs Bros., date unknown.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, British Whig statesman. Lord of the Treasury, 1765, Speaker of the House of Commons, 1766, member of the Privy Council, 1767, and Secretary of State for Home Affairs, War, and the Colonies, 1782. In the latter capacity he guided the negotiations for the Treaty of 1783 between Great Britain and the United States.

Scope and Contents

Letters and documents relating to British and American relations. Includes autograph letters to Townshend from William Pitt, the 1st Earl of Chatham, from 1774 to 1776, and George III, from 1782 to 1784; Henry McCulloh's "Several thoughts. on the Stamp duty," 1765, and Silas Deane's "Observations and proposals relating to a Navigable Canal from Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence," from 1785 to 1787. "A Provisional Act for Settling Troubles in America," 1776 and "Memorandum of a Declaration to Dr. Addington relating to American colonies," 1776, by William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham; the minutes of a cabinet formed in 1782 for the purpose of negotiating peace with the United States and letters from George III to Townshend, 1782 to 1783, are bound in two volumes. The volumes also contain the original portrait of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, by William Hoare, and Thomas Townshend's copies of "An Act to Enable His Majesty to conclude a Peace with the United States of America" (London : Printed at Charles Eyere and William Straham, 1782) and "Provisional articles signed at Paris, the 30th of November, 1782 by the Commissioner of His Britannic Majesty, and the Commissioners of the United States of America" (London : Printed by T. Harrison and S. Brooke, in Warwick-Lane, 1783).

Processing Information

Processed by Huntington Library staff. In May 2014, Brooke M. Black created a paper finding aid, and in 2022, updated and created the electronic finding aid.

Arrangement

Arranged in the following series: 1. Unbound material; 2. Volumes.

General

Individual call numbers included in the collection: HM 810, HM 829, HM 920, HM 1480, HM 2041, HM 2081, HM 20694, HM 21228, HM 22030, HM 22357, HM 22580, HM 22595, HM 23659-23679, HM 25753-25767, HM 80765-80766. Former call number: mssTownshend, Thomas papers.

Related Materials

The Huntington Library also has the Townshend family papers (mssTD).

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Canals -- New York (State)

Canals -- Vermont

Canals -- Québec (Province)

Great Britain -- Colonies -- America -- History -- 18th century

Great Britain -- History -- 18th century -- Sources

Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- United States

United States -- Foreign relations -- Great Britain

United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Peace

Drawings (visual works) -- Great Britain

Government records -- Great Britain -- 18th century

Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 18th century

Treaties -- Great Britain -- 18th century

Minutes (administrative records) -- Great Britain -- 18th century

Proposals -- Great Britain -- 18th century

Portraits -- Great Britain

Deane, Silas, 1737-1789

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820

Hoare, William, 1707-1792

Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778

Great Britain

Great Britain (Title of work: Stamp Act (1765).)

Unbound material 1765-1787

Box 1, Folder 1

Henry McCulloh "General thoughts, endeavouring to demonstrate that the Legislature here...have a right to tax the British Colonies; But that, with respect to the late America Stamp Duty Bill, there are several clauses...which are very exceptionable..." HM 1480 1765

Scope and Contents

Addressed to Thomas Townshend. With separate cover and endorsed by Thomas Townshend.

Box 1, Folder 2

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend HM 22030 1774 December 20

Box 1, Folder 3

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend HM 21228 1775 January 31

Box 1, Folder 4

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend HM 22357 1775 February 20

Box 1, Folder 5

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend HM 829 1776 November 16

Scope and Contents

In the handwriting of Lady Chatham; endorsed by Thomas Townshend. Formerly with mssHM 810.

Box 1, Folder 6

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend: Memorandum of a Declaration...Doctor Addington in July 1776 HM 920 1776 November 16

Scope and Contents

In the handwriting of Lady Chatham; endorsed by Thomas Townshend. Formerly with mssHM 810.

Box 1, Folder 7

Baron Edward Thurlow letter to Thomas Townshend HM 22595 1782 September 18

Scope and Contents

Endorsed by Thomas Townshend.

Box 1, Folder 8

Baron Edward Thurlow letter to Thomas Townshend HM 20694 1782 September 22

Scope and Contents

Endorsed by Thomas Townshend.

Box 1, Folder 9

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23679 1784 January 11

Box 1, Folder 10

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23675 1784 January 17

Box 1, Folder 11

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23674 1784 January 18

Box 1, Folder 12

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23678 1784 February 5

Box 1, Folder 13

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23677 1784 February 16

Box 1, Folder 14

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23676 1784 April 12

Box 1, Folder 15

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23673 1784 April 19

Box 1, Folder 16

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23672 1784 April 29

Box 1, Folder 17

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23671 1784 April 30

Box 1, Folder 18

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23670 1784 May 14

Box 1, Folder 19

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23669 1784 May 16

Box 1, Folder 20

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23668 1784 May 24

Box 1, Folder 21

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23667 1784 July 5

Box 1, Folder 22

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23666 1784 July 26

Box 1, Folder 23

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23665 1784 August 3

Box 1, Folder 24

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23664 1784 August 20

Box 1, Folder 25

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23663 1784 September 29

Box 1, Folder 26

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23662 1784 October 9

Box 1, Folder 27

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23661 1784 November 16

Box 1, Folder 28

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23660 1784 November 21

Box 1, Folder 29

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23659 1784 December 29

Box 1, Folder 30

Silas Deane "Observations & proposals respecting a navigable canal from Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence" HM 2081 1785 October 25

Scope and Contents

Endorsed by Thomas Townshend. Formerly in mssHM 22580.

Box 1, Folder 31

Silas Deane "Additional remarks &c. respecting a navigable canal from Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence" HM 2041 1787 March 26

Scope and Contents

Endorsed by Thomas Townshend. Formerly in mssHM 22580.

Box 1, Folder 32

Silas Deane letter to Thomas Townshend HM 22580 1787 May 9

Scope and Contents

Originally with mssHM 2081 and mssHM 2041.

Volumes 1775-1783

Volume 1 HM 810 1775 February 1

Scope and Contents

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham "A Provisional Act for settling troubles in America." Includes hand-drawn portrait of William Pitt by William Hoare. Volume originally contained mssHM 829 and mssHM 920; they were taken out and housed in the Townshend box.

Volume 2 mssHM 25753-25755 1782

Conditions Governing Access

RESTRICTED: Volume 2: Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.

George III, King of Great Britain note HM 25753 1782 August 21

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 25754 1782 September 25

George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 25755 (FAC) 1782 November 19

Scope and Contents

The original of HM 25755 is housed in a separate envelope.

Volume 3 1782-1783

Conditions Governing Access

RESTRICTED: Volume 3: Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.

Minutes of the Cabinet HM 25756 1782 July 25

Thomas Townshend letter to George III, King of Great Britain HM 25764 1782 August 21

Minutes of the Cabinet: Recommending to the King concession of independence HM 25757 1782

Minutes of the Cabinet: Recommending to the King the recognition of the title "The Thirteen United States" HM 25758 1782 September 19

Scope and Contents

In Thomas Townshend's handwriting.

Thomas Townshend letter to George III, King of Great Britain HM 25765 1782 September 24

Minutes of the Cabinet: Concerning the boundaries to be fixed by the treaty, and suggesting that a treaty of commerce be also arranged HM 25759 1782 October 17

Minutes of the Cabinet: Recommending that, having in view the recovery of W. Florida, Mr. Oswald be instructed to intimate to the commissioners of the United States that they would be inclined to listen to the proposal of the attachment of the Spanish possessions in preference to the dominions of France HM 25760 1782 October 25

Scope and Contents

In Thomas Townshend's handwriting.

Minutes of the Cabinet: Demanding the restoration, by the United States, of confiscated property and insisting upon a full and complete amnesty granting the personal security of all those who have taken part with the Mother Country HM 25761 1782 November 11

Minutes of the Cabinet: Rough draft of the terms of the ultimatum of Great Britain HM 25762 1782

Scope and Contents

In Thomas Townshend's handwriting.

Memorandum of Minutes of the Cabinet: Recommending to the King that, if the commissioners of the United States declare themselves satisfied on their part, he should forthwith acknowledge the independence of the thirteen states absolutely and irrevocably, and withdraw all the troops from the thirteen states and agree to an immediate cessation of the hostilities on sea and land HM 25763 1782 November 18 or 19

Thomas Townshend letter to George III, King of Great Britain HM 25766 1782 November 19

Scope and Contents

Enclosure: Draft of the preliminary articles for his approval.

Copy of the declaration for the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and America HM 25767 1782 January 20

Printed item: "An Act to enable His Majesty to conclude a peace of truce with certain colonies in North America therein mentioned" HM 80765 1782

Scope and Contents

Thomas Townshend's own copy.

Printed item: "Provisional articles, signed at Paris, the 30th of November, 1782, by the Commissioner of His Britannic Majesty, and the Commissioners of the United States of America" HM 80766 1783

Scope and Contents

Thomas Townsend's own copy.