"SECRECY AND CELERITY OF OPERATION DEMANDS THAT THE PUBLIC STORES AND WARLIKE DEPOTS OF EVERY KIND SHOULD BE AMPLY PROVIDED, AND EVER READY": SIR HENRY CLINTON ON SUPPLYING THE BRITISH ARMY, 1793 FIRST EDITION, UNCUT AND UNOPENED

CLINTON, Henry. Authentic Copies of Letters Between Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. and the Commissioners for Auditing the Public Accounts. London: No publisher, 1793. Octavo, recent half dark brown calf, uncut and unopened. $650.

First edition of Sir Henry Clinton's detailed responses to questions of fiscal impropriety and profiteering under his command of the British army during the American Revolution, following an initial investigation in the early 1780s.

The former British Commander-in-Chief in America continues to push back against allegations of fraud on his watch: "I am not inclined to suspect that persons entrusted with the disbursement of the public money could be so lost to every principle of honour and the fear of punishment, as to dare to charge more for what they purchased than what was actually paid; and do not believe the circumstance every happened under my immediate command… I do not presume to plume myself with any benefits resulting from [my financial measures] to this kingdom, but I hope it will not be judged unreasonable in me to expect that they may at least serve to refute the charges of want of ?conomy and attention, which have been so very illiberally insinuated against me." With half title. ESTC T110685.

Uncut outer edges slightly ragged, some inner margins reinforced, last leaf with upper outer corner repaired. A near-fine copy, handsomely bound.