Printed only months after the decisive victory at Yorktown and while peace negotiations with Great Britain were approaching, this issue contains Washington's June 27, 1782 address from his headquarters at Fishkill [Newburgh] presented to Chevalier de La Luzerne, Minister of France, celebrating the birth of the French Dauphin.

• Complete Revolutionary War newspaper.
• George Washington diplomatic address.
• French Alliance and American independence.
• Chevalier de La Luzerne's official response.
• Published only months before the preliminary peace negotiations leading to the Treaty of Paris.
• Excellent display masthead.

This is a complete issue of the Salem Gazette [Salem, Massachusetts] dated Thursday, July 18, 1782 [Vol. I, No. 48], printed and published by Samuel Hall near the courthouse.

This issue was published during the closing months of the Revolutionary War, only three months after Parliament voted to end offensive operations in America and just four months before preliminary peace negotiations began.

The newspaper contains several historically important Revolutionary War items.

Highlights

1. George Washington's Address to the French Minister
The most important feature is the lengthy printing of George Washington's congratulatory address delivered at his headquarters at Fishkill [Newburgh], June 27, 1782, to the Minister of France celebrating the birth of the French Dauphin.

Washington emphasizes:

• the enduring alliance between France and the United States
• gratitude for French military assistance
• hopes for continued cooperation
• confidence in American independence

This is one of Washington's finest public statements regarding the Franco-American alliance.

2. Reply of the Chevalier de La Luzerne

Following Washington's address is the response of Chevalier Anne-César de La Luzerne, the French Minister to the United States.

He praises:

• Washington
• the Continental Army
• the American cause
• the future friendship between France and the United States.

3. "To the People of America"

The front page begins with a lengthy political essay originally printed in the Pennsylvania Packet [August 24, 1779] extolling the French alliance and condemning British rule.

4. Revolutionary War News

Additional content includes:

• reports from London
• naval actions
• French and Spanish military activity
• reports from Philadelphia, Hartford and Richmond
• shipping intelligence
• prisoner exchanges
• advertisements and commercial notices

Historical Importance

While Washington speeches appear in a number of wartime newspapers, his June 27, 1782 address to the French minister is among the better-known diplomatic pieces of the Revolutionary period.

The timing is especially desirable:

• Yorktown had already been won.
• Independence was becoming inevitable.
• Washington was publicly acknowledging that victory depended heavily upon French military and naval assistance.

For collectors specializing in:

• George Washington
• Revolutionary War newspapers
• French Alliance material
• Revolutionary diplomacy

this is an excellent issue.

Condition

Condition is Good to Very Good considering age.

Positives:

• Complete four-page issue.
• Strong printing.
• Attractive masthead.
• Good margins.
• Text generally clean and readable.

Detractors:

• Several archival repairs.
• Small edge losses.
• Moderate foxing and staining.
• Minor separations at folds.
• Typical edge wear for an unrestored Revolutionary newspaper.

Overall display appeal remains very good.