GEORGE III (1738-1820, King of Great Britain)

Fine document signed at the head "To Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Councillor Richard Rigby Paymaster General of Our Guards, Garrisons and Land Forces" directing the "Agents to Our several Regiments of Foot to pay into your hands the Ballances remaining of the sums issued to them on account of the Levy Money and Subsistence of the Augmentation taking place on the 25th day of December 1770. Our Will and Pleasure is that you do receive and retain the same to be disposed of in such manner as We shall hereafter be pleased to direct ...", 1 side folio, Court at St James's, 17th August

This document comes from the height of the American War of Independence when George III lost his sovereignty of the United States. George III is often accused of obstinately trying to keep Great Britain at war with the revolutionaries in America, despite the opinions of his own ministers. In the words of the Victorian author George Trevelyan, the King was determined "never to acknowledge the independence of the Americans, and to punish their contumacy by the indefinite prolongation of a war which promised to be eternal." The King wanted to "keep the rebels harassed, anxious, and poor, until the day when, by a natural and inevitable process, discontent and disappointment were converted into penitence and remorse". However, more recent historians defend George by saying in the context of the times no king would willingly surrender such a large territory, and his conduct was far less ruthless than contemporary monarchs in Europe

Item Date:  1775

Stock No:  40146