(Thomson, Charles) | The Ohio country in the French and Indian Wars

(Thomson, Charles)

An Enquiry into the Causes of the Alienation of the Delaware and Shawanese Indians from the British Interest, and into the Measures taken for recovering their Friendship. … Together with the remarkable Journal of Christian Frederic Post. London: J. Wilkie, 1759

8vo (197 x 115 mm). With folding engraved map "A Map of the Province of Pennsylvania. Intended chiefly to Illustrate the Account of the Several Indian Purchases" by Thomas Jeffreys; closed marginal tear to map repaired, short splits to folds, museum blindstamp to title-page, some spotting and minor browning throughout, occasional marginal soiling. Expertly bound to style in modern tree calf, covers decoratively bordered in gilt, red gilt-lettered label to spine. 

"One of the most important works on relations with the Indians that had been published to to that time" (Graff).   

In this significant work related to the French and Indian War, Charles Thomson argues that the arrogance and greed of the colonial government of Pennsylvania engendered the discord between the Pennsylvania Indians and the British. This led the natives to temporarily move to the French side of the conflict in the Ohio country. "Apparently printed at Benjamin Franklin's expense as a part of his campaign to discredit the Proprietary government of Pennsylvania" (Streeter). Missionary Christian Post travelled to the Ohio country in 1758 to negotiate with the Indians, and persuaded them back to the British side. The second part of this book is formed by Post's account of that trip.

PROVENANCE

Jay Snider (bookplate) — Bonhams New York, 21 September 2016, lot 1094

REFERENCE

Church 1029; Field 1548; Graff 4139; Howes T210; Sabin 95562; Streeter sale 966; Struggle for North America 49; Vail, Old Frontier 535