Manuscript, working draft, entitled "The Franco- Prussian War, its causes & probable Consequences

1872. 104 numbered leaves; written in in on folded sheets, with text on right-hand side, notes and corrections on left. With numerous corrections and deletions. 1 vols. Oblong 8vo (6 x 8 inches0. Fine. 104 numbered leaves; written in in on folded sheets, with text on right-hand side, notes and corrections on left. With numerous corrections and deletions. 1 vols. Oblong 8vo (6 x 8 inches0. A very early and well-written analysis by an amateur historian*, shortly afer the cessation of hostilities.

The author begins: "It is but a few months since Europe saw the end of a struggle of which history affords so example. There have been fiercer battles fought, larger territories involved in the conflict, but never was there witnessed a more futile pretext for war, blind imprudence in the aggressor, or more consummate generalship & complete success on the opposite side ..."


*Possibly by an American, given references to Abraham Lincoln, the American Revolution, "the freest nation in the world", etc). A good candidatate might possibly be Henry Percy Litchfield (see OCLC 10644238), of Long Island, whose papers are in George Washington U with the Litchfield family papers, and whose privately printed book THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR OF 1870 (Gracehill, Brooklyn, L.I., 1872) was among the earliest studies of the war.