Lot #273

[King George III] Baptist Noel Turner Autograph Draft Proposal for Settling the American Colonies (c. 1775)

Description

Amidst "alarm & disaffection" in the colonies, a proposal to King George III for preserving America as three sovereign states, "the first containing the southern, the second the New England Provinces, & the third Canada"

Revolutionary War–era unsigned handwritten draft, five pages three sheets, 7.5 x 10, no date but circa 1775. Handwritten draft proposal by pamphleteer, poet, and scholar Baptist Noel Turner (1739–1836), rector of Wing in Rutlandshire and Denton in Lincolnshire, addressed to King George III. Amidst "the present alarm & disaffection" in the colonies, Turner offers his solution, in part: "That war the apparent necessity of which we so deeply deplore we must deem, Sire, to be the more cruel as it is not carried on by our open & natural enemies but by those who owe your Majesty & these kingdoms the greatest gratitude & obedience—nor is it a conquer'd Province that revolts but Colonies who have raised the sword against an indulgent Parent & generous deliverer…The scheme I propose for the settlement of America should we ever become Arbiters there again is indeed of a nature so bold & extraordinary that I sometimes fancy it too romantick…Let us suppose then America to be divided into several verbi grati three grand divisions the first containing the southern, the second the New England Provinces, & the third Canada. Let these be declared by Parliament independent on Great Britain & each other & at the same time be by the King's authority erected into so many sovereign States indissolubly bound by family compacts to each other & especially to the Parent State whom they must ever regard as the head, the Patron & founder of this grand alliance."

He goes on to discuss the governance of these autonomous regions: "At the head of each of these sovereign States let there be placed some of the Princes his present Majesty's Sons with the title of Kings as for instance King of Carolina, King of New England or of Pennsylvania, & King of Canada. Let these now Sovereigns be allianced as soon as possible to three Protestant Principles which might create a strong alliance & diversion at present in favour of the settlement…such an encrease of the Brunswick line could not fail one would think of exalting to the greatest height the glory & prosperity of the British Empire."

He further addresses questions of independence, republicanism, and taxation: "Such an alliance would be an effectual check to republicanism in all the States tho' as they would partake of the spirit of the British Constitution, it could not I should hope be dangerous to real liberty." In very good to fine condition, with light soiling chipping, and toning to edges; the short paragraph on the last page is clipped and affixed to a same-size sheet.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts Ft. Rev/Civil War, and The Collection of Dr. Joseph Matheu Part 1
• Dates: #721 - Ended 07/09/2025