[FAIR MANUSCRIPT COPY OF SIR WILLIAM ADAMS'S "NOTES WITH REFERENCE TO THE POLICY OF A TIMELY RECOGNITION BY THIS GOVERNMENT OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE LATE SPANISH COLONIES & TO THE IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES TO BE DERIVED THEREFROM BY ALL CLASSES OF THE COMMUN
Adams, Sir William:
London. Aug. 7-13, 1823. [13]pp. Folio. Folded, gathered, and sewn as originally compiled, old folds. A very clean fair copy in a neat legible hand, with a few contemporary reading marks in red and black pencil. Final page with caption title, slightly soiled. In fine condition, accompanied by a three-page octavo note from Adams to Melville, in very good condition with the contemporary pencil annotation "Thanks" on the first page. A fair manuscript copy of a document composed by Sir William Adams strongly supporting British recognition of the newly independent Latin American countries. The report, complete with its cover letter of August 7, 1823, was originally sent to the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Robert Jenkinson, Second Earl of Liverpool, for his review and consideration. The present copy was sent to the First Lord of the Admiralty, Robert Dundas, Lord Melville, six days later with a separate brief note. Adams's NOTES consists of a series of brief arguments in favor of Great Britain recognizing the independence of the late Spanish colonies, emphasizing the commercial and financial advantages in doing so, as well as noting humanitarian, legal, and political reasons. In his cover letter to the Prime Minister, Adams also describes his sources of information for the memo. These include several individuals with many years experience in Latin America: a close family associate; the widow of a British general who resided in Colombia for several years; General Arthur Goodall Wavell, an English soldier of fortune who was active in various financial and settlement schemes in Mexico and Texas; Colombian and Peruvian deputies; and representatives of mercantile houses actively engaged in South American commerce. Sir William Adams [later Rawson], was a famous, if somewhat controversial, British oculist in the first quarter of the 19th century. Although the efficacy of his treatments were questioned by many, "Adams was made surgeon and oculist-extraordinary to the prince regent and to the dukes of Kent and Sussex, and on 11 May 1814 he was knighted at Carlton House. An ophthalmic institution was founded for him on 1 Dec. 1817 in part of the York hospital at Chelsea" - DNB. Outside of his medical activities, Adams had financial investments ranging from steam gun manufacturing to the Anglo-Mexican mine. In 1825, he wrote a pamphlet entitled THE PRESENT OPERATIONS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE MEXICAN MINE ASSOCIATIONS ANALYSED BY THE EVIDENCE OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, ENGLISH AND MEXICAN. Adams's manuscript, in the form of a memorandum to the Prime Minister, argues for British recognition of the independent Latin American nations for both moral and financial reasons. He begins by discussing "the impossibility of Spain's reconquering her late colonies," and the "inhumanity in prolonging the war in the late Spanish colonies," adding that the "late Spanish colonies [are] entitled to the recognition of their independence by the Law of Nations." Following these moral and legal entreaties, Adams details the commercial and financial advantages to Britain in supporting Latin American independence, which he considers as two separate issues. The increased commercial activity for England would include the export of all sorts of goods for a population of 17 million, particularly manufacturing, machinery, and scientific knowledge for mining. "It is evident that the necessary consequence of the employment of British capital & enterprise in working these mines would be to increase to a vast extent the quantity of silver annually raised. It is therefore within the reach of the British speculator & capitalist to raise bullion to almost any amount, by supplying the South Americans with machinery & capital...it is apparent that England having thus the power to raise that means, she is thereby enabled to create a market for her manufactures to an almost unlimited extent." The author adds that other nations are already engaged in commercial development in Spanish America, and further delay on Britain's part could lead to a preference for foreign, instead of English, manufactures and the possible "permanent injury of the British manufacturer & the revenue of this country." Adams also describes the financial advantages to be derived from the independence of the former Spanish colonies. In addition to trade and commerce, the increase in imported bullion from the mines would have "the most important financial consequences." As the national economy would be backed by actual precious metals, the government could begin to pay off interest on the national debt and even lower the level of the debt itself. "The result which may be fairly anticipated from these financial operations would be a return of times, similar to those when the paper currency was at its height, when landlords, tenants, professions, & trades were all affluent and prosperous, but with this important difference, that the currency being real, not fictitious, the nation would be exempt from the evils consequent upon the pernicious system of a paper currency." Adams concludes by noting that Great Britain's improved commercial and financial condition, derived from its recognition of Latin American independence, would also lead to political advantages. These would be based on Britain's ability to be increasingly independent in trade and commerce from the European continent. While expressing deference to the Prime Minister and the officials in his administration in regards to these political ramifications, Adams confidently maintains that "in no manner can all these vitally important objects be so effectually accomplished, as by the recognition of the independence of the late Spanish colonies, & thereby securing to Great Britain the main part of the trade & commerce & consequentially of the immense treasures raised from the mines of these countries." A fine fair copy of a memorandum and cover letter originally prepared for the British Prime Minister urging British support for the newly independent Latin American nations. This copy sent to Lord Melville, First Lord of the Admiralty, for his consideration includes a brief cover note specifically mentioning that an increase in trade would have extensive benefits for British seaman. The brief cover note and the docket title on the memorandum mention additional documents to support the author's arguments, but Adams's cover letter to the Prime Minister indicates that these documents, derived from his various sources with Latin American experience, would be sent separately when available. Whether these additional documents were completed is presently not known, and are not included here. DNB XVI, pp.780-1 (Adams, under Rawson). DNB X, pp.748-52 (Jenkinson, Earl of Liverpool). DNB VI, pp.195-6 (Dundas, Lord Melville). NEW HANDBOOK OF TEXAS 6, pp.852-3 (Wavell).
(Item ID: WRCAM37792) $2,850.00