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Ambrose Serle Essays on North America
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Ambrose Serle (1742-1812) was a British colonial official with a long professional interest in North America. In 1772, Serle was appointed under-secretary to William Legge (1731–1801), Second Earl of Dartmouth, Secretary of State for the Colonies. Serle also served from 1776 to 1778 as Secretary to General William Howe (1729–1814), commander of British forces in North America. Serle remained in America until 1780.
Includes seven (previously bound) likely unpublished essay and dispatches on a variety of topics relating to the American colonies, including economics and religion, dating from 1768-1780, by British colonial official, Ambrose Serle (1742–1812). One of the essays is addressed to Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire (1719-1793), or Lord Hillsborough; two are addressed to Thomas Villiers, 1st Earl of Clarendon, or Lord Hyde. Serle wrote six of these essays before publishing his political pamphlet "Americans Against Liberty; or an essay on the Nature and Principles of True Freedom, Shewing that the Designs and Conduct of the Americans Tend only to Tyranny and Slavery" (1775).
These materials were part of 21 other lots of archival papers from Holywell House, Hampshire, home of the Villiers family, earls of Clarendon. These papers chiefly relate to the life and careers of two contemporaries: Henry Hyde, Viscount Cornbury (1710–1753), and Thomas Villiers (1709–1786), created successively Baron Hyde of Hindon (1756) and Earl of Clarendon (1776).
Purchased, 2017 (AM 2017-95).
This collection was processed by Faith Charlton in March 2017. Finding aid written by Faith Charlton in March 2017.
No materials were separated during 2017 processing.
Subject
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Faith Charlton
- Finding Aid Date
- 2017
- Access Restrictions
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Open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
10 pages
Physical Description1 folder
29 pages
Physical Description1 folder
Includes two copies, one with an introduction signed by the author addressed to Lord Hillsborough; 71 pages
Physical Description1 folder
19 pages
Physical Description1 folder
Signed and dated from Lambeth; 10 pages
Physical Description1 folder
Signed and dated from Lambeth; 7 pages
Physical Description1 folder
Argues that the American colonies had been a drain on British resources; 18 pages
Physical Description1 folder