Sales catalogue 591: Maggs Bros

Date:
1933
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/133
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 591: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    94/160 page 80
    Louis XIV (King of France)—continued. United Provinces of the Low Countries having been signed at Nimeguen on the 10th of this month by my plenipotentiaries, and those of the said States General, and there being every appearance that it will be signed on the part of the Catholic King in a few days. I have thought well . . . to consent to a suspension of arms, and that my cousin the Duke of Luxemburg, Commander in Chief of my Armies of Flanders should appoint some person to settle in my name with the Commissioner deputed in the name of the Catholic King by the Duke de Villa- hermoson, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Low Countries and the person deputed on the part of the said States General, upon the manner in which the troops of my armies and garrison shall conduct themselves.’ Ltc. ORDERING THE TE DEUM TO BE SUNG FOR THE VICTORY OVER THE ENGLISH AT LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 1398 LOUIS XV (1710-1774). King of France. LETTER SIGNED ADDRESSED TO M. DE BLENAC, AT BREST. 3. pp., tolio., Versailles, 16th. September, 1753. £150 An extremely important document on the Wars in Canada between the English and French, written by the King’s secretary and signed by Louis XV exactly a year before the battle of Quebec. The King sends this letter requesting the Te Deum to be sung in the Arsenal Chapel, or on the flagship, at Brest, for the victory over the English at Lake Champlain. He states that the moderation and equity which have characterised all his proceedings have not inspired sentiments of reconciliation with the enemy who forced him to take arms. They have hired numerous troops to divide his army, have armed an immense fleet, not only to attack his possessions in America, but also the naval provinces of his kingdom. The brave soldiers he has sent to Canada under the orders of M. de Montcalm have been so well supported by the great valour of their chief, in spite of the enormous difference in numbers, that they have saved the French colonies, in a signal victory over the English at Lake Champlain, a memorable action in which 4,000 French fought and vanquished 22,000 men of which more than 6,000 have been killed. In 1756 Montcalm was appointed to command the French troops in North America. For some time his position was desperate, his chief hope being blunders made by Lord Abercrombie, and in 1758 won a great victory over him at Lake Champlain. Worn out with labour and fatigue, Montcalm asked to be recalled, but was only given more power. He afterwards hastened to Quebec to meet Wolfe. Here, both sides gathered their troops together, Wolfe’s intention being to scale the Heights of Abraham in the teeth of the enemy, in spite of them being twice as strong. A fierce battle ensued, the English being victorious, but both leaders mortally wounded. This was the commencement of misfortune for the French, they eventually losing all their possessions in Canada.
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