Mauger, Joshua (1725-1788) Letterbook 1 by Joshua Mauger
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03902.250 Author/Creator: Mauger, Joshua (1725-1788) Place Written: England; s.l. Type: Letterbook Date: 15 April 1762 - 27 June 1763 Pagination: 92 p. : 21.5 x 33.5 cm. Order a Copy
p. 1: 15 April 1762, Chelsea. Mauger to Capt. Stephen Blundell.
p. 2: 15 April 1762, London. Mauger to Mr. Marc Ant. Donohue, Bapetene, Guadaloupe. [in French]
p. 2: 19 April 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Henry Livingston, Kingston, Jamaica.
p. 3: 24 April 1762, London. Mauger to William Bourn, Marblehead, New England.
p. 3: 24 April 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Mr. James Freeman, Marblehead, New England.
p. 4: 28 April 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Messers Da Costa & Farr, Charles Town, South Carolina.
p. 4: 19 May 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Captain James Wallis.
p. 5: 20 May 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Mr. George Olive.
p. 6: 12 June 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to John Butler, Halifax.
Discusses Nova Scotia politics, commenting on absentee Gov. Henry Ellis. Mentions poor trade conditions, particularly for distilleries, smuggling, and the province's debt. Mentions that a Col. Hale went with Lord Albemarle to the West Indies (In March 1762, Albemarle commanded ten thousand troops on board Admiral Pocock's fleet in the secret expedition to attack Havana.) Notes, in regard to fresh beef prices, that "there are but few Troops & Ships of War in North America."
p. 10: 10 June 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Michael Francklin, Halifax.
No letter copied; most of the page is blank.
p. 11-12: Blank pages.
p. 13: 12 June 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Walter Franklin and family, New York.
Discusses paying ransom for English prisoners held by the French.
p. 15: 5 July 1762, Pool. Mauger to George Olive, St. John's, Newfoundland.
p. 16: 10 July 1762, Chelsea. Mauger to Benjamin Faneuil, Boston.
Fanueil's bank notes have been accepted in London.
p. 16: 17 July 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Walter Franklin and family, New York.
p. 17: 26 July 1762, Chelsea. Mauger to Michael Franklin, Halifax.
Passionately discusses his business interests. Notes hearing that "a Squadron of French Ships of War with 1500 Land Forces had…Taken the Island of NfLand," referring to d'Haussonville's capture of St. John's, Newfoundland on 27 June 1762. Remarks of the English: "we are mad at making Foreign Conquests & leave ourselves naked at Home And in our Plantations in N. America wh[ich] is Extremely wrong and I fear Such Proceedings will sooner or later Prove our Ruin."
Inserted between p. 18 and p. 19: half-sheet.
First paragraph indicates that the recipient's Aunt Mauger has died and he and Mrs. Mauger went to the funeral. Also indicates that any letters sent to him should be left at either the home of Peter Mauger or his daughter D'Auvergne. Second paragraph indicates a letter was sent to Michael Francklin on 7/17.
p. 19: 26 July 1762, Chelsea. Mauger to Captain Thomas Wood.
p. 20: 26 July 1762, Chelsea. Mauger to Michael Franklin.
Mentions some of the negative commercial effects of the French capture of St. John's, Newfoundland. Refers to conquests abroad at the expense of home protection as the "blundering of our Ministry." Comments on the need to prevent the smuggling of foreign rum. Again mentions Gov. Ellis. Also mentions a death by smallpox.
p. 23: 8 August 1762, Chelsea. Mauger to Captain Thomas Wood [Martinique or Guadaloupe].
p. 24: 14 August 1762, Chelsea. Mauger to Walter Franklin and family.
Again discusses the effects of the reduction of St. John's and reiterates his belief that British imperial ambition may ultimately yield dishonorable defeat and being "laughed at by all the World."
p. 24: 13 August 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to William Carroll, Cork, Ireland.
p. 25 14 August 1762, Chelsea. Mauger to James and George Peirsy, Cork.
Accuses John Stuart, third Earl of Bute and recently-elected Prime Minister, of seeking peace in the Seven Years' War for his own interests. Hopes that Stuart's "Schemes will be marr'd & he outed," so that the war will continue until "we can obtain a good peace." Many people thought that Stuart's terms were unfavorable to the British. (Mauger stood to lose commercially according to these terms.)
p. 26: 16 August 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Michael Franklin, Halifax.
p. 26: 16 August 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Walter Franklin and family, New York.
p. 27: 2 September 1762, Pool. Mauger to Michael Franklin. Mentions that "Peace is at hand" and its possible effect on prices.
p. 29: 4 September 1762, Pool. Mauger to Michael Franklin, Halifax.
p. 30: 15 October 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Michael Franklin.
Notes expected arrival of Gov. Henry Ellis. Discusses news of Colonel Amherst's recapture of St. John's and the surrender of Havana.
p. 36: 15 October 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to John Butler.
In reference to a collector who has not written him: "I find no Gratitude in the People of America."
p. 41: 23 October 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Michael Franklin.
Some discussion of Nova Scotia politics, mention of political maneuverings and comment on Gov. Ellis.
p. 44: 25 October 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Walter Franklin and family.
Mentions the capture of Havana and the France's loss of St. John's, and the negative effect on trade of their short holding of it. Explains news that a peace is at hand with, what he considers, unfavorable terms.
p. 46: 25 October 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Archibald Hinshelwood, Halifax.
Comments negatively on Nova Scotia's Lieutenant Governor Jonathan Belcher, calling him a "Silly Body" and stating he "will leave no Stone unturned to get him outed for his base behaviour to the Individuals of the Province."
p. 47: 13 November 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Michael Franklin.
p. 49: 15 November 1762, [s.l.]. Mauger to Michael Franklin.
p. 50-51: Blank pages.
p. 52: 8 January 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger to John Butler, Halifax.
p. 54: 8 January 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger to Walter Franklin and family, New York.
p. 54: 15 January 1763, Chelsea. Mauger to Michael Franklin, Halifax.
p. 57: 17 January 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger to Captain Stephen Blundell of the ship Diana.
p. 58: 19 January 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger to Michael Franklin.
Denounces Lieutenant Governor Jonathan Belcher for not giving assent to a bill: "this affair will make him appear as Black as the very Devil." Long discussion of politics.
p. 61: 3 February 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger to John Butler, Halifax.
p. 62: 8 February 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger to Michael Franklin.
Discussion of politics.
p. 64: 12 March 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger to Michael Franklin, Halifax.
Inserted between p. 66 and p. 67: 16 March 1763, London. Mauger to Benjamin Comte & Co., Quebec.
Inserted between p. 66 and p. 67: blotting paper.
p. 67: 12 March 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger Benjamin Comte & Co., Quebec.
p. 69: 24 March 1763, London. Mauger to Michael Franklin, Halifax.
Discusses some of the results of the Treaty of Paris that he learned by stealth, since "The diffinitive Treaty is not yet made public."
p. 72: 24 March 1763, London. Mauger to John Butler.
p. 76: 26 March 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger to Henry Newton, Halifax.
Discusses colonial politics.
p. 78: 29 March 1763, [s.l.]. Mauger to Benjamin Comte & Co., Quebec.
p. 79: 22 April 1763, Bath. Mauger to Michael Franklin.
p. 81: 22 April 1763, Bath. Mauger to Henry Newton.
Discusses colonial politics and trade.
p. 83: 26 April 1763, London. Mauger to Walter Franklin and family.
p. 85: 4 May 1763, Bath. Mauger to Michael Franklin.
p. 86: 8 May 1763, Bath. Mauger to John Pownall, Secretary to the Board of Trade.
Answering Pownall's letter of 29 April. He has instructed his brother to pay the debt he owes.
p. 86: 22 May 1763, Bath. Mauger to Micheal Franklin.
Letter crossed out and marked, "Null not being sent" at the top.
p. 87: 17 June 1763, London. Mauger to John Butler, Halifax.
p. 88: 27 June 1763, London. Mauger to Benjamin Comte & Co., Quebec.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.