THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, October, 1781  Near the back are some items concerning the Revolutionary War including reports on events in West Florida, and another report noting "...arrived off Sandy Hook with 14 sail of the line, 4 frigates, one sloop...M. De Barras, with the French squadron under his command, had sailed the Saturday before from Rhode Island...approached the Chesapeak on the morning of the 5th of September...discovered a number of large ships at anchor which seemed to be extended across the entrance of the Chesapeak from Cape Henry to the Middle Ground...made the signal to bear away & approach, & soon after to engage the enemy close..." with much more on the naval action in the Chesapeake, taking about a full page. These would be the preliminary events to the closing battles of the Revolutionary War, as before the end of October Cornwallis would surrender to Washington at Yorktown, Virginia.
Interesting in that this issue contains a foldout plate of: "American Stoves on the Improved Construction" with a related article headed: "Description of the Pennsylvanian Fire-Places" telling of the invention of "Dr. Franklin...".
Among the other articles noted in the table of contents are: "Debates in Parliament Continued" "Manifesto relative to the Dutch War" "Biographical Memoirs of Mr. Abraham Sharp, a Celebrated Mathematician" & more.
Complete in 56 pgs. with full title/index page.  Measures about 5 by 8 inches and in very nice condition.
A very nice Revolutionary War era magazine from the "mother country" with a wide range of varied content including news of the day, political reports, literary items, and other unusual tidbits. This was the first periodical to use the word "magazine" in its title, having begun in 1731 and lasting until 1907.