The Political Writings of the 1790s

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Editor: Gregory Claeys

This collection reprints a substantial number of annotated contributions to the controversy, divided between 'radical' and 'loyalist' responses.

Containing over 100 key pamphlets, reset and annotated in full, this series provides a substantial and valuable resource for study of this key period in British Political History. Covering radicalism and loyalism in the French Revolution debate, the series includes the writings of such important figures as Burke, Paine, Price, Priestley and Thelwall among many others.

From the outbreak of the French revolution until the late 1790s, Britain engaged in one of the fiercest political debates in her history. This controversy did not only concern the applicability of French principles to Britain. It also acknowledged the potential relevance of the American revolution. Moreover, it ranged across the entire vocabulary of political thought, from liberty and equality to the virtues of the British constitution, the Established Church, aristocracy and a society of ranks, deference and the desire for greater independence among the lower orders. Though the main texts of the debate, Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790) and Paine's Rights of Man (1791-2) are well-known, there were many replies to each of these, as well as a vast number of additional tracts which are very scarce.

These works expose the richness and diversity of this extraordinarily intense debate, out of which emerged for the first time a spectrum of political positions, ranging from conservatism through Whiggism and liberalism to radicalism and socialism, which is recognisably modern in character.

Contents

Volume 1: Radicalism and Reform: Responses to Burke 1790-91

Table of Pagination of Contemporary and Modern Editions of Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790) and Thomas Paine's Rights of Man (1791-2); Charles Stanhope, A Letter from the Earl Stanhope to the Right Honourable Edmund Burke (Dublin, 1790); Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Men (1790); Short Observations on the Right Honourable Edmund Burke's Reflections (1790); Catherine Macaulay, Observations on the Reflections of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke on the Revolution in France (1790); Thomas Christie, Letters on the Revolution in France (1791); James Mackintosh, Vindiciae Gallicae (1791); Joseph Towers, Thoughts on the Commencement of a New Parliament (1790); . . . . . Woolsey, Robert. Reflections Upon Reflections In Two Letters to the Right Hon. Edmund Burke (1790).

Volume 2: Radicalism and Reform: Responses to Burke, 1791-2

Charles Pigott, Strictures on the New Political Tenets of the Rt. Hon. Edmund Burke (1791); Joseph Priestley, Letters to the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, Occasioned by His Reflections on the Revolution in France (1791); [John Scott]. A Letter to the Right Honourable Edmund Burke in Reply to His `Reflections on the Revolution in France' (1791); A Vindication of the Revolution Society, Against the Calumnies of Mr. Burke (1792); Strictures on the Letter of the Right Hon. Mr. Burke on the Revolution in France (1791); [M Du Fresnov]. An Address to the National Assembly of France, Containing Strictures on Mr. Burke's Reflections (1791); [Brooke Boothby]. A Letter to the Right Honourable Edmund Burke (1791); Benjamin Bousfield, Observations on the Right Hon. Edmund Burke's Pamphlet, on the Subject of the French Revolution (Dublin, 1791); George Rous, Thoughts on Government: Occasioned by Mr. Burke's Reflections (1790); M Depont, Answer to the Reflections of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke (1791); Capel Lofft, Remarks on the Letter of the Rt. Hon. Edmund Burke, Concerning the Revolution in France (1791); Temperate Comments upon Intemperate Reflections: or, A Review of Mr. Burke's Letter (1791)

Volume 3: Radicalism and Reform 1790-2

John Butler, Brief Reflections Upon the Liberty of the British Subject (c.1792); Joel Barlow, Advice to the Privileged Orders (1792); The Confederacy of Kings against the Freedom of the World (1792); The Political Crisis: Or, A Dissertation on the Rights of Man (1791); Richard Price, A Discourse on the Love of Our Country (1790); [William Cunninghame], The Rights of Kings (1791); Christopher Wyvill, A Defence of Dr Price, and the Reformers of England (1792); [David Williams], Lessons to a Young Prince (1791); The Perverse Definition Imposed On the Word Equality (?1792); A Few Words, But No Lies; From Roger Bull to His Brother Thomas (1792); John Oswald, Review of the Constitution of Great Britain (1792)

Volume 4: Radicalism and Reform 1793-1800

The Address of the British Convention (1793); Address of the London Corresponding Society (1793); Address to the Nation, from the London Corresponding Society (1793); The Catechism of Man (1793); A Letter to Edmund Burke from the Swinish Multitude (1793); William Frend, Peace and Union Recommended to the Associated Bodies of Republicans and Anti-Republicans (1793); Joseph Gerrald, A Convention the Only Means of Saving Us From Ruin (1794); John Oswald, A Review of the Constitution of Great Britain (3rd edn., 1792); Daniel Stuart, Peace and Reform against War and Corruption (4th edn., 1795); John Thelwall, Peaceful Discussion, and Not Tumultuary Violence, the Means of Redressing National Grievances (1795); John Thelwall, The Speech of John Thelwall at the Second Meeting of the London Corresponding Society November 12, 1795 (1795); A Political Freethinker's Thoughts on the Present Circumstances (1795); [William Hughes], Justice to a Judge. In Answer to the Judge's Appeal to Justice (2nd edn., 1793); [James Parkinson], Knave's Acre Association (1793); [James Parkinson], The Village Association or the Poltics of Edley (1793); More Reasons for a Reform in Parliament (1793); Extermination , Or an Appeal to the People of England, On the Present War, With France (1793); Petition of the Friends of the People (1793); Henry Yorke, Thoughts on Civil Government (1794); Daniel Stuart, Peace and Reform, Against War and Corruption (2nd edn., 1794); [James Parkinson], A Vindication of the London Corresponding Society (1794); Church and King Morality (1795); John Baxter, Resistance to Oppression, the Constitutional Right of Britons (1795)

Volume 5: Loyalism 1791-2: Responses to Paine

Defence of the Rights of Man (1791); A Dissertation on Government, with the Balance Considered (1792); A British Freeholder's Address to His Countrymen on Thomas Paine's Rights of Man (1791); Considerations on Mr. Paine's Pamphlet on the Rights of Man (1791); Cursory Remarks on Dr. Priestley's Letters to Mr. Burke, and Strictures on Mr. Paine's Rights of Man (1791); A Defence of the Constitution of England (1791); Charles Elliott, The Republican Refuted (1791). [Frederick Hervey], A New Friend on an Old Subject (1791). [John Jones], The Reason of Man: With Strictures on Rights of Man (1791). John Jones, The Reason of Man: Part Second (1793). Remarks on Mr. Paine's Pamphlet, Called the Rights of Man (Dublin, 1791). A Rejoinder to Mr. Paine's Pamphlet, Entitled Rights of Man (1791); Rights Upon Rights With Observations Upon Observations (1791); [William Cusack Smith], Rights of Citizens, Being an Examination of Mr. Paine's Principles (1791); [John St. John], A Letter from a Magistrate to William Rose on Mr. Paine's Rights of Man (1792); [Graham Jephson], Letters To Thomas Payne (1792); Slight Observations upon Paine's Pamphlet (1791)

Volume 6: Loyalism 1792-3: Responses to Paine

An Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland Rights of Man (1793); An Answer to the Second Part of the Rights of Man (1792); Brooke Boothby, Observations on the Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs, and on Mr. Paine's Rights of Man (1792); [John Bowles], A Protest Against Thomas Paine's 'Rights of Man' (1792); Constitutional Letters, in Answer to Mr. Paine's Rights of Man (1792); A Fourth Letter to Thomas Paine, in Answer to the Second Part of the Rights of Man (1792); Charles Hawtrey, Various Opinions of the Philosophical Reformers Considered; Particularly Paine's Rights of Man (1792); A Letter to Mr Paine on His Late Publication (1792); Paine and Burke Contrasted (1792); Alexander Peter, Strictures on the Character and Principles of Thomas Paine (1792); A Rod in Brine, or a Tickler for Tom Paine (1792); A Whipper for Levelling Tommy; in Which the Modern Doctrines of the Rights of Man are Properly Stated (1793); John Riland, The Rights of God, Occasioned by Mr. Paine's 'Rights of Man' (2nd edn.,1792); [Thomas Hearn], A Short View of the Rise and Progress of Freedom in Modern Europe (1792)

Volume 7: Loyalism 1791-3

An Address to the Disaffected Subjects of George the Third (1793); An Address to the People of Great Britain; Containing a Comparison between the Republican and Reforming Parties (1793); Sir William Ashurst, Judge Ashurst's Charge (1792); Jackson Barwis, A Fourth Dialogue Concerning Liberty (1793); A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush (1792); [John Bowles], Dialogues on the Rights of Britons (1792); John Somers Cocks, Patriotism and the Love of Liberty Defended (1791); John Somers Cocks, A Short Treatise on the Dreadful Tendency of Levelling Principles (1793); [Alexander Dalrymple], Parliamentary Reform, As It Is Called, Improper in the Present State of This Country (2nd edn., 1792); A Few Plain Questions, and a Little Honest Advice, to the Working People of Great Britain (1792); [Thomas Green], Political Speculations, Occasioned by the Progress of a Democratic Party in England (1791); William Hamilton, Letters on the Principles of the French Democracy (1792); [William Jones], One Pennyworth of Truth from Thomas Bull to His Brother John (1792); A Letter to the Farmers and Manufacturers of Great Britain and Ireland (1792); A Letter to the People of England, on Their Present Situation (1792); [William Paley], Equality, As Consistent with the British Constitution (1792); [WilliamPaley], Reasons for Contentment (1792); William White, A Dissertation on Government with the Balance Considered (1792); A Brief Reply to the Observations of Ben. Bousfield, Esq. on Mr. Burke's Pamphlet, Respecting the Revolution in France (1791); [Thomas Gould], A Vindication of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke's Reflections on Revolution in France, in Answer to All his Opponents (1791); By the King a Proclamation (1792); A Trip to the Island of Equality, Or, An Extract from Russian Voyages (1792); Ten Minutes' Caution, From a Plain to His Fellow Citizens (1792); A Country Curate's Advice to Manuafacturers (1792)

Volume 8: Loyalism 1793-1800

Loyalty Necessary to Self-Preservation (1798); Hannah More, Village Politics Addressed to All Mechanics, Journeymen, and Day Labourers (1793); Uvedale Price, Thoughts on the Defence of Property (1797); [John Reeves], Thoughts on the English Government (1795); Three Warnings to John Bull (1798); W C Proby, Modern Philosophy and Barbarism (1798); Thomas Green, An Examination of the Leading Principle of the New System of Morals (1799); [William Atkinson], A Concise Sketch of the Intended Revolution in England (1794); James Hurdis, Equality: A Sermon (1794); Arthur Young, The Example of France a Warning to Britain (4th edn., 1794); A New Dialogue between Monsieur Francois and John English on the French Revolution (c.1793); A Scott, Plain Reasons for Adopting the Plan of the Societies Calling Themselves the Friends of the People (1793); Thomas Moore, An Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain on the Dangerous and Destructive Tendency of the French System of Equality and Liberty (1793); John Bowles, A Short Answer to the Declration of the Persons Calling Themselves the Friends of the Liberty of the Press (1793); Remarks on the Principles and Views of the London Corresponding Society (1795); Francis Wollaston, An Examination of the Leading Principle of the New System of Morals (2nd edn., 1799); John Bowles, Reflections at the Conclusion of the War (2nd edn., 1801)

Reviews

‘Claeys has an incisive knowledge of the period and a masterful control over his material, which has here been enhanced by the worthy efforts of the publisher, Pickering and Chatto...There are not enough superlatives to describe this work and all libraries should be encouraged to purchase it. For the serious scholar, Political Writings of the 1790s would surely take pride of place on any bookshelf; and at around £3.90 per … [pamphlet] … this is not an exorbitant amount to outlay and it a worthwhile and indeed tax-deductible investment.’
– Michael T Davis, The Australian Journal of Politics and History

Related titles

• London Corresponding Society, 1792–1799
• Selected Political Writings of John Thelwall
• Trials for Treason and Sedition, 1792–1794

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