Scope and Contents:
This collection contains handwritten copies and typed transcripts of a portion of Sir William Petty, second Earl of Shelburne, first Marquis of Lansdowne's papers. Materials include correspondence, proposals, memoranda, and other papers.
The collection is organized into two series: European and Mediterranean Politics, and Colonial Affairs and the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
The European and Mediterranean Politics series contains diplomatic correspondence between the Sardinian Ambassadors in London and Paris, the Comte de Viry, and M. le Bailli Solar de Brielle. Topics discussed include the Peace of Paris from the years 1761-1763.
The second series relates to affairs in Colonial America and the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Materials include letters, abstracts, proposals, and memoranda. Military leaders such as General Phineas Lyman, General Gage, and Earl of Shelburne discuss potential expansion of colonies into Florida, navigating the Mississippi river, establishing colonies in Illinois, and supplying Illinois garrisons with provisions. Other topics in the collection relate to merchant affairs and administrative matters and costs such as the Stamp Act. Also included is correspondence between American and West Indian governors discussing topics of trade, illegal settlers, and Indian trade and boundary problems.
These records were selected mainly for publication in the Illinois Historical Collections. The original papers are located at the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan.
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