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[BROADSIDE]. By His Excellency Sir William Howe, K.B., General and Commander in Chief &c. &c. &c. Declaration. Sir William Howe, regretting the Calamities to which many of His Majesty's faithful Subjects are still exposed by the Continuance of the Rebellion...doth therefore promise a free and general Pardon to all such Officers and private Men, as shall voluntarily come and surrender themselves...Given under my Hand, at Head-Quarters of the Army, the 27th Day of August 1777, n.p. [?Philadelphia: James Humphreys, Jr.], n.d. [1777]. Folio, edges untrimmed. Not in Evans; Shipton & Mooney 43259 (three copies). Fine.
A very rare broadside. Howe had driven Washington's army from Philadelphia in a series of brilliant manoeuvers culminating in his occupation of the city on September 22-23. On the 26th, the day before the issuance of this declaration, Howe had set up his headuarters at the Logan House in Germantown. Howe states his determination to "pursue with the Rigors of War all those whom his Majesty's Forces, in the Course of their Progress, may find in Arms against the King"; but he reassures the "peacable Inhabitants" of Pennsylvania, the three Lower Counties (Delaware), Maryland, etc. that he has issued "strict orders" to his army "for the preservation of Regularity and Good Discipline" among his troops. Most importantly, Howe promises a "free and general pardon" to Officers and private Men, now actually in Arms against His Majesty" if they will "relinquish the Part they have taken in this Rebellion, and return to their due Allegiance."
The broadside is almost certain to have been printed by James Humphreys Jr. "in Market Street, between Front and Second Streets," as he styled himself. Humphreys issued a large number of related broadside proclamations of Howe (c.f. Evans 15321, 15322 and 15324, the latter clarifying the offer of pardons in the present broadside; also 15325, 15326 and others).
A very rare broadside. Howe had driven Washington's army from Philadelphia in a series of brilliant manoeuvers culminating in his occupation of the city on September 22-23. On the 26th, the day before the issuance of this declaration, Howe had set up his headuarters at the Logan House in Germantown. Howe states his determination to "pursue with the Rigors of War all those whom his Majesty's Forces, in the Course of their Progress, may find in Arms against the King"; but he reassures the "peacable Inhabitants" of Pennsylvania, the three Lower Counties (Delaware), Maryland, etc. that he has issued "strict orders" to his army "for the preservation of Regularity and Good Discipline" among his troops. Most importantly, Howe promises a "free and general pardon" to Officers and private Men, now actually in Arms against His Majesty" if they will "relinquish the Part they have taken in this Rebellion, and return to their due Allegiance."
The broadside is almost certain to have been printed by James Humphreys Jr. "in Market Street, between Front and Second Streets," as he styled himself. Humphreys issued a large number of related broadside proclamations of Howe (c.f. Evans 15321, 15322 and 15324, the latter clarifying the offer of pardons in the present broadside; also 15325, 15326 and others).