Beschreibung:

A Journal of the Late Actions of the French at Canada. With the Manner of their being Repuls'd, by His Excellency, Benjamin Fletcher, Their Majesty's Governour of New-York. London: Richard Baldwin, 1693. [4], 22 pp. Final blank present. 4to (198 x 149 mm). Modern full calf gilt antique. Minor browning. FIRST ENGLISH EDITION, THE SUPERLATIVELY RARE PRIMARY AMERICAN SOURCE ON KING WILLIAM'S WAR, THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL WAR FOUGHT IN THE COLONIES. This Journal reprints the content of the "lost" Bradford Journal of 1693, perhaps the first book printed in New York, of which there are only 2 known copies, the first of which was discovered only in 1902. Bayard [1644-1707] has his name misspelled "Reyard" on the title-page. "King William's War" was the first of the series known collectively as the French & Indian wars. "In the summer of 1689 news arrived at Albany that England and France were at war. Enthusiastically, the Iroquois allies of the English descended on Lachine, near Montreal, killing French settlers and destroying buildings, crops, and animals. The following winter of 1690 the French returned the favor, employing those same Iroquois tactics in their attacks against the English settlements of Schenectady, Salmon Falls, Fort Loyal, and fortified Mohawk towns (called "castles" by the English) in the Albany area" (JCB). Bayard, one of the English defenders, gives an account of the attack on Schenectady and the surrounding Mohawk towns. The Comte de Frontenac and his men were repulsed by the New York militia under Governor Benjamin Fletcher. Fletcher was given the Mohawk honorific of "Great Swift Arrow" for this action. There is also an account of two Dutchmen who were prisoners of the Canadian French for two years. Church 727; European Americana 693/20; Howes B257 ("dd"); JCB Champlain's America 17; Sabin 4036; Vail 267; Wing B1458. Provenance: ownership inscription of Witt Boothly on title-page. Acquisition: purchased from William Reese Company, 2000, $32,000.