Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney Papers: Finding Aid mssTownshend
Brooke M. Black
The Huntington Library
August 2022
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney papers
Creator:
Sydney, Thomas Townshend, Viscount, 1733-1800
Identifier/Call Number: mssTownshend
Physical Description:
2.58 Linear Feet
(1 box, 3 volumes, 1 tan envelope)
Date (inclusive): 1765-1787
Abstract: Papers belonging to British Whig statesman Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
RESTRICTED: Volumes 2 and 3: Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The volumes were purchased from Charles J. Sawyer, Ltd., 1916-1918. Letters by George III (1784) and other items purchased
from Anderson Galleries, 1917-1919. Two items purchased from Maggs Bros., date unknown.
Biographical / Historical
Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, British Whig statesman. Lord of the Treasury, 1765, Speaker of the House of Commons,
1766, member of the Privy Council, 1767, and Secretary of State for Home Affairs, War, and the Colonies, 1782. In the latter
capacity he guided the negotiations for the Treaty of 1783 between Great Britain and the United States.
Scope and Contents
Letters and documents relating to British and American relations. Includes autograph letters to Townshend from William Pitt,
the 1st Earl of Chatham, from 1774 to 1776, and George III, from 1782 to 1784; Henry McCulloh's "Several thoughts. on the
Stamp duty," 1765, and Silas Deane's "Observations and proposals relating to a Navigable Canal from Lake Champlain to the
St. Lawrence," from 1785 to 1787. "A Provisional Act for Settling Troubles in America," 1776 and "Memorandum of a Declaration
to Dr. Addington relating to American colonies," 1776, by William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham; the minutes of a cabinet formed
in 1782 for the purpose of negotiating peace with the United States and letters from George III to Townshend, 1782 to 1783,
are bound in two volumes. The volumes also contain the original portrait of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, by William
Hoare, and Thomas Townshend's copies of "An Act to Enable His Majesty to conclude a Peace with the United States of America"
(London : Printed at Charles Eyere and William Straham, 1782) and "Provisional articles signed at Paris, the 30th of November,
1782 by the Commissioner of His Britannic Majesty, and the Commissioners of the United States of America" (London : Printed
by T. Harrison and S. Brooke, in Warwick-Lane, 1783).
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library staff. In May 2014, Brooke M. Black created a paper finding aid, and in 2022, updated and
created the electronic finding aid.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series: 1. Unbound material; 2. Volumes.
General
Individual call numbers included in the collection: HM 810, HM 829, HM 920, HM 1480, HM 2041, HM 2081, HM 20694, HM 21228,
HM 22030, HM 22357, HM 22580, HM 22595, HM 23659-23679, HM 25753-25767, HM 80765-80766. Former call number: mssTownshend,
Thomas papers.
Related Materials
The Huntington Library also has the Townshend family papers (mssTD).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Canals -- New York (State)
Canals -- Vermont
Canals -- Québec (Province)
Great Britain -- Colonies -- America -- History -- 18th century
Great Britain -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- United States
United States -- Foreign relations -- Great Britain
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Peace
Drawings (visual works) -- Great Britain
Government records -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Treaties -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Minutes (administrative records) -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Proposals -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Portraits -- Great Britain
Deane, Silas, 1737-1789
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820
Hoare, William, 1707-1792
Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778
Great Britain
Great Britain (Title of work: Stamp Act (1765).)
Unbound material
1765-1787
Box 1, Folder 1
Henry McCulloh "General thoughts, endeavouring to demonstrate that the Legislature here...have a right to tax the British
Colonies; But that, with respect to the late America Stamp Duty Bill, there are several clauses...which are very exceptionable..."
HM 1480
1765
Scope and Contents
Addressed to Thomas Townshend. With separate cover and endorsed by Thomas Townshend.
Box 1, Folder 2
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend HM 22030
1774 December 20
Box 1, Folder 3
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend HM 21228
1775 January 31
Box 1, Folder 4
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend HM 22357
1775 February 20
Box 1, Folder 5
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend HM 829
1776 November 16
Scope and Contents
In the handwriting of Lady Chatham; endorsed by Thomas Townshend. Formerly with mssHM 810.
Box 1, Folder 6
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham letter to Thomas Townshend: Memorandum of a Declaration...Doctor Addington in July 1776 HM 920
1776 November 16
Scope and Contents
In the handwriting of Lady Chatham; endorsed by Thomas Townshend. Formerly with mssHM 810.
Box 1, Folder 7
Baron Edward Thurlow letter to Thomas Townshend HM 22595
1782 September 18
Scope and Contents
Endorsed by Thomas Townshend.
Box 1, Folder 8
Baron Edward Thurlow letter to Thomas Townshend HM 20694
1782 September 22
Scope and Contents
Endorsed by Thomas Townshend.
Box 1, Folder 9
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23679
1784 January 11
Box 1, Folder 10
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23675
1784 January 17
Box 1, Folder 11
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23674
1784 January 18
Box 1, Folder 12
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23678
1784 February 5
Box 1, Folder 13
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23677
1784 February 16
Box 1, Folder 14
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23676
1784 April 12
Box 1, Folder 15
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23673
1784 April 19
Box 1, Folder 16
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23672
1784 April 29
Box 1, Folder 17
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23671
1784 April 30
Box 1, Folder 18
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23670
1784 May 14
Box 1, Folder 19
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23669
1784 May 16
Box 1, Folder 20
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23668
1784 May 24
Box 1, Folder 21
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23667
1784 July 5
Box 1, Folder 22
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23666
1784 July 26
Box 1, Folder 23
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23665
1784 August 3
Box 1, Folder 24
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23664
1784 August 20
Box 1, Folder 25
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23663
1784 September 29
Box 1, Folder 26
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23662
1784 October 9
Box 1, Folder 27
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23661
1784 November 16
Box 1, Folder 28
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23660
1784 November 21
Box 1, Folder 29
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 23659
1784 December 29
Box 1, Folder 30
Silas Deane "Observations & proposals respecting a navigable canal from Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence" HM 2081
1785 October 25
Scope and Contents
Endorsed by Thomas Townshend. Formerly in mssHM 22580.
Box 1, Folder 31
Silas Deane "Additional remarks &c. respecting a navigable canal from Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence" HM 2041
1787 March 26
Scope and Contents
Endorsed by Thomas Townshend. Formerly in mssHM 22580.
Box 1, Folder 32
Silas Deane letter to Thomas Townshend HM 22580
1787 May 9
Scope and Contents
Originally with mssHM 2081 and mssHM 2041.
Volume 1 HM 810
1775 February 1
Scope and Contents
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham "A Provisional Act for settling troubles in America." Includes hand-drawn portrait of William
Pitt by William Hoare. Volume originally contained mssHM 829 and mssHM 920; they were taken out and housed in the Townshend
box.
Volume 2 mssHM 25753-25755
1782
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED: Volume 2: Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.
George III, King of Great Britain note HM 25753
1782 August 21
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 25754
1782 September 25
George III, King of Great Britain letter to Thomas Townshend HM 25755 (FAC)
1782 November 19
Scope and Contents
The original of HM 25755 is housed in a separate envelope.
Volume 3
1782-1783
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED: Volume 3: Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.
Minutes of the Cabinet HM 25756
1782 July 25
Thomas Townshend letter to George III, King of Great Britain HM 25764
1782 August 21
Minutes of the Cabinet: Recommending to the King concession of independence HM 25757
1782
Minutes of the Cabinet: Recommending to the King the recognition of the title "The Thirteen United States" HM 25758
1782 September 19
Scope and Contents
In Thomas Townshend's handwriting.
Thomas Townshend letter to George III, King of Great Britain HM 25765
1782 September 24
Minutes of the Cabinet: Concerning the boundaries to be fixed by the treaty, and suggesting that a treaty of commerce be also
arranged
HM 25759
1782 October 17
Minutes of the Cabinet: Recommending that, having in view the recovery of W. Florida, Mr. Oswald be instructed to intimate
to the commissioners of the United States that they would be inclined to listen to the proposal of the attachment of the Spanish
possessions in preference to the dominions of France
HM 25760
1782 October 25
Scope and Contents
In Thomas Townshend's handwriting.
Minutes of the Cabinet: Demanding the restoration, by the United States, of confiscated property and insisting upon a full
and complete amnesty granting the personal security of all those who have taken part with the Mother Country
HM 25761
1782 November 11
Minutes of the Cabinet: Rough draft of the terms of the ultimatum of Great Britain HM 25762
1782
Scope and Contents
In Thomas Townshend's handwriting.
Memorandum of Minutes of the Cabinet: Recommending to the King that, if the commissioners of the United States declare themselves
satisfied on their part, he should forthwith acknowledge the independence of the thirteen states absolutely and irrevocably,
and withdraw all the troops from the thirteen states and agree to an immediate cessation of the hostilities on sea and land
HM 25763
1782 November 18 or 19
Thomas Townshend letter to George III, King of Great Britain HM 25766
1782 November 19
Scope and Contents
Enclosure: Draft of the preliminary articles for his approval.
Copy of the declaration for the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and America HM 25767
1782 January 20
Printed item: "An Act to enable His Majesty to conclude a peace of truce with certain colonies in North America therein mentioned" HM 80765
1782
Scope and Contents
Thomas Townshend's own copy.
Printed item: "Provisional articles, signed at Paris, the 30th of November, 1782, by the Commissioner of His Britannic Majesty,
and the Commissioners of the United States of America"
HM 80766
1783
Scope and Contents
Thomas Townsend's own copy.