BOOK GNU · FEATURED HISTORICAL FIND

A Letter from Congress, 1779

John Jay’s appeal to the American people—preserved in a Boston printing addressed to Rev. Jonathan French of Andover.

Watch the video tour ↓ · Explore the photographs ↓

1779 congressional circular title page, inscribed to Rev. Mr. French at Andover — Boston, 1779. The printed national appeal carries handwritten evidence of its local life.

Independence had to be sustained

In September 1779, Congress addressed its constituents about the cost of the American Revolution. A Circular Letter from the Congress of the United States of America to Their Constituents, written by John Jay, discusses public debt, Continental currency, taxation, military supplies, and confidence in the new nation.

This is the contemporary Boston reprinting, issued by order of the General Assembly of Massachusetts-Bay. The title page also records the earlier Philadelphia printing of September 1779. On the final printed page, John Jay is named as President, with the date September 13, 1779.

From Congress to the congregation

The Massachusetts resolution dated October 2, 1779 directs that copies be sent to ministers throughout the state and read to their congregations after divine service. This copy is inscribed “Rev’d Mr. French” and “Andover.” A second handwritten note appears to record a reading on October 10, 1779.

The Joseph Dow connection

Gary Whitworth Brower identifies the recipient as Rev. Jonathan French based on the broader lot of material associated with genealogist Joseph Dow from which he acquired this pamphlet. Gary donated many other items from that lot to the Hampton Historical Society. This account records the seller’s knowledge of the source lot; it is not an authentication or endorsement by the Historical Society.

The handwritten annotations have not been independently authenticated. John Jay, John Hancock, and John Avery are named in print within the pamphlet; those printed names are not autograph signatures.

See the pamphlet in motion

Watch the complete four-minute tour below, with close views of the paper, printed pages, annotations, and condition.

Video hosted on GNUWHIT · 4 minutes 1 second. Use the player controls to pause, seek, or view full screen.

The surviving object

The sewn pamphlet measures approximately 8 × 5 inches, with printed pagination through page 15. The photographs show age-toned paper, spotting and staining, creasing, frayed edges, tears, and losses at margins and corners—most visibly on the title leaf and lower edges. Wear around the spine and sewing is also visible.

Bibliographic references for this Boston edition: Evans 16559 and ESTC W15193.