|
ABSTRACT
The Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher is comprised of “Transcripts of Papers Concerning the Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher, 1666-1674” taken from the Additional Manuscripts 11409 and the Sloane Manuscripts 1519 in the British Library. These papers deal with the relations between the English and French who had to share the island of St. Christopher. Persons interested in studying the history of settlement and colonisation of both the English and the French will find this collection of papers useful. Most of the papers contain suspicions of French or English depredations, clauses in their arrangements to share the island and breaching these clauses. A close examination of the papers reveals a great deal of distrust between the two which is the result of rivalry for supremacy in the Caribbean waters. The study of these papers brings this to the fore and is useful for researchers in the area of colonial development, conquest and rivalry.
PART A – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
IDENTITY AND LOCATION
Name of Documentary Heritage
The Differences Between the English and French at St. Christopher, 1666-1674
Country
St. Kitts
State, Province or Region
The Caribbean
Address
The National Library of Jamaica, 12 East Street, Kingston
LEGAL INFORMATION
Owner (Name and contact details)
The National Library of Jamaica
12 East Street
Kingston
Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567
Email: nlj@infochan.com
Custodian
As above
Legal Status
Public
Details of Legal and Administrative provisions for the preservation of the documentary
heritage:
Responsibility for the care, preservation and use of the Transcript of Papers concerning the Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher lies with the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library where it forms part of the Manuscript Collection.
Accessibility: The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher is available to members of the public for consultation, in particular, researchers and academics.
Responsible Administration: The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher is located at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library and responsible administration for the collection lies with the Executive Director of the National Library and the Government Archivist.
IDENTIFICATION
Description and inventory: The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher was copied from the Additional Manuscripts 11409 and the Sloane Manuscript 1519 located in the British Library. The Transcript is legible and contains approximately 108 folios with several accounts in its one bound volume. These accounts all relate to the interactions between the French and the English at St. Christopher. Articles include:
-
The Articles betwixt the English and the French upon St. Christopher upon the Invasion of the French and the Surrender of the English, the 11th April 1666;
-
A Narrative of the Lord Willoughby’s Proceedings in Pursuance of his Majesty’s Commission and other Orders for the Receiving of St. Christopher 14/24 Dec. 1668;
-
Translate of ye Reply to Lord Arlington’s Answer to ye French Ambassador’s Memorial;
-
Commission for the Receiving St. Christopher from the French;
-
Protest of the English Commissioners Against the French Commissioner concerning Devastations etc. since the Treaty at Breda 13th October 1672;
-
Memorial to “The Right Hon. Ye Earl pf Sandwich, President and ye Rest of ye Honourable Council of Plantations”;
-
By the King “A Proclamation touching the Planters in the Island of St. Christopher”.
Bibliographic details: The bibliographic details of the Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher are to be found in the card catalogue at the Special Collections and Conservation Dept. of the National Library. The Transcript is filed under MS. 247.
HISTORY
MANAGEMENT PLAN
Bibliographic: The National Library plans to place the bibliographic details of the Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher on a database that once finished will be placed online for the use of patrons unable to visit the library.
Preservation Plan: The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher is in good condition and was treated with book poison, rebound and the inside cover deacidified.
ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE SELECTION CRITERIA
Influence
The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher has been used time and again by historians interested in the early years of the English and French settlement of St. Christopher. The relations between the two often reflected the vacillating nature of foreign affairs in the seventeenth century.
Time
The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher covers the early years of the French and English settlement at St. Christopher. These early years marked jealous rivalry on both sides. Such rivalry was demonstrated through localised and continental wars. Additionally, this time period marked the early years of mercantilism and England’s efforts to strengthen that mercantile empire.
Place
The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher covers the island of St. Christopher, now known as St. Kitts.
People
The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher deals mainly with the English and French settlers at St. Christopher. The two were often rivals for ascendancy in the Caribbean and enmity on the continent was often played out by rivalry on St. Christopher. The petty wars between the two sets of settlers take up most of the Transcripts and other accounts of the early settlement of St.
Kitts
.
Subject/Theme
Persons interested in the political and constitutional history of St. Kitts will find the Transcript particularly useful. Additionally, the Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher will aid persons studying colonial history and foreign relations.
Form/Style
The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher contains numerous early accounts of the English and French at St. Christopher. The language varies with the writer and as such, persons interested in studying early formal language may find the Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher useful.
Social Value
The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher possesses great social value. The Transcript must be preserved as evidence of the early settlement of St. Kitts. It is contains several documents all of varying significance. This collection of transcripts will be useful for the people of St. Kitts who are interested in their early history and the settlement of their island. If elements of French culture linger on, the Transcripts would be one source that attests to their presence in the island.
Integrity
The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher is in good condition and the handwriting used to transcribe the documents is very legible.
Rarity
The National Library possesses the only Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher in Jamaica. The originals of these documents are located in the Additional Manuscript and Sloane Collection at the British Library.
CONSULTATION
The National Library of Jamaica
12 East Street
Kingston
Tel: (876) 967-1526, 967-2516
Fax: (876) 922-5567
Email: nlj@infochan.com
NOMINATOR
PART B
ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT
The Transcript of Papers concerning Differences between the English and French at St. Christopher is in very good condition, having been rebound and
deacidified. In addition, it has been treated with book poison to prevent the depredations of insects.
|
