L'amour paternel qui a toujours animè [sic] le coeur du Roy pour les habitans du Canada, et le desir de les soustraire à la domination des Anglois, ont determiné Sa Majesté a envoyer dans un des ports americains des forces de terre et de mer capables d'effectuer ce grand objet
Contributors: Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834
Series: Early American imprints -- no. 17038; Early American imprints -- no. 43900
Publisher: Printed by David C. Claypoole
Published: 1780
Place of publication: Philadelphia
Language: fre
Subjects: History; French Participation; Naval operations
Notes: "... in order to mislead the enemy on the aim of our expedition, General Washington wishes me to draft a proclamation to the inhabitants of Canada. This document will be printed with the greatest secrecy, but we shall take care to pass it on to New York. ..."--from a letter from Lafayette to the Chevalier de La Luzerne, dated May 25, 1780. See "Lafayette in the age of the American Revolution: selected letters and papers, 1776-1790," edited by S.J. Idzerda, v. 3, p. 35-39.

The proclamation proposes a confederation between the United States and Canada, and a joint military expedition of French and American land and sea forces to liberate Canada from the British.

Signed: Fait au quartier general, de [blank] Sur la riviere de Connecticut, le [blank] mille sept ceus [sic] quatre vingts. Signé La Fayette. Par ordre du general, capitaine secretaire.

According to the Library of Congress, "in a letter from Benedict Arnold to General Washington dated Philadelphia, June 7, 1780, Arnold states definitely that it was printed by Mr. Claypoole in Second Street." Formerly thought to have been an imprint of the French Fleet Press, Newport.

Printed in two columns.

Evans 17038

Bristol B5192

Shipton & Mooney 43900

Alden, J.E. Rhode Island, 821

Microform version available in the Readex Early American Imprints series.