Lot 299: BURGOYNE, John (1722-1792). A State of the Expedition from Canada, as laid before the House of Commons. London: J. Almon, 1780.

8 o (230 x 145 mm). 6 engraved folding maps, troop distributions hand-colored. Original boards, titled in manuscript on spine, UNCUT; quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance : Thomas Pownall (1722-1805), colonial governor of Massachusetts and Revolutionary sympathizer who labored zealously to drive the French from North America (engraved armorial bookplate with motto: "The Wicked borroweth & payeth not again.") Second edition, A VERY FINE COPY IN ENTIRELY ORIGINAL CONDITION. This is Burgoyne's chief defense of his conduct as the commander of the British expedition proceeding southward from Canada in 1777. Intended to cut the New England states off from the rest of rebellious America, the expedition ended in disaster at Saratoga, where American forces defeated Burgoyne and forced his surrender. Here Burgoyne defends his leadership and claims that the forces given him were inadequate for the task. This is an important association copy from the library of Thomas Pownall, an early sympathizer with the American cause, who suggested parliamentary changes as a means to avert confrontation. Of him John Adams wrote, he was "the most constitutional and national Governor, in my opinion, who ever represented the crown in this province." Howes B968; Lande 69; Sabin 9255; Staton & Tremaine/TPL 503 (ref.).