The American Colonies and the British Empire, 1607–1783

Editor: Steven Sarson
Consulting Editor: Jack P Greene


Part I: Volumes 1–4: 1088pp: March 2010
978 1 85196 948 7: 234x156mm: £350.00/$625.00

Part II: Volumes 5–8: 1600pp: January 2011
978 1 85196 949 4: 234x156mm: £350.00/$625.00

This eight-volume reset edition traces the evolution of imperial and colonial ideologies during the British colonization of America. It covers the period from the founding of the Jamestown colony in Virginia in 1607 to the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783. At the start of the seventeenth century, colonies were largely autonomous private enterprises. Over time, however, British governments grew more interventionist as they became increasingly alarmed by the colonists’ economic and political liberties.

The works cover a wide range of ideas on empire and colonies from both sides of the Atlantic. Varied and often incompatible imperial and colonial ideas were espoused by British political economists, politicians, administrators, colonial governors and other officials, as well as by colonists. Sources include pamphlets, reports, sermons and letters. Almost all the texts are reproduced in full.

The edition benefits from a general introduction, introductions to Parts I & II, headnotes, endnotes and a consolidated index in the final volume. The editorial material takes into account recent intellectual, theoretical and methodological approaches pioneered in empire studies. This edition will be important for scholars of Atlantic History, American and British History and Empire Studies.

  • Over fifty complete texts set early American history within the colonial context
  • Contains new transcriptions of previously unpublished and difficult-to-access manuscript material
  • Sources are drawn from archives in the US and the UK
  • New editorial apparatus includes a general introduction, introductions to Parts I & II, headnotes and endnotes
  • Consolidated index in the final volume

Sample pages

Contents

Part I

Volume 1: 1607–75
George Benson, A Sermon Preached at Paules Crosse (1609); A True and Sincere Declaration of the Purpose and Ends of the Plantation begun in Virginia (1610); [John White], The Planters Plea, Or The Grounds of Plantations Examined, and usual Objections Answered (1630); Sir Philip Meadows, ‘Observations concerning the Dominion and Soveraignty of the Seas’ (1673); William Petty, ‘Trade: Dominion of the Seas’ (c1674); John Evelyn, Navigation and Commerce, their Original and Progress (1674)

Volume 2: 1676–1714
[Josias Fendall], 'Complaint from Heaven with a Huy & Crye and a Petition out of Virginia and Maryland' (1676); R B [Nathaniel Crouch], The English Empire in America: or A Prospect of His Majesties Dominions in the West-Indies (1685); John Palmer, The Present State of New-England Impartially Considered, In a Letter to the Clergy (1689); [Edward Rawson and Samuel Sewall], The Revolution in New England Justified, and the People there Vindicated from the Aspersions cast upon them by Mr John Palmer (1691); [William Cleland], The Present State of the Sugar Plantations Consider’d (1713)

Volume 3: 1715–52
Daniel Dulany, The Right of the Inhabitants of Maryland, to the Benefit of the English Laws (1728); [John Ashley], The British Empire in America, Consider’d (1732); A Pattern for Governours: Exemplify’d in the Character of Scroop late Lord Viscount Howe, Baron of Clonawly, and Governor of Barbados (1735); Archibald Cummings, The Character of a Righteous Ruler: A Sermon upon the Death of the Honorable Patrick Gordon, Esq, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania (1736); Harman Verelst, ‘Some Observations on the Right of the Crown of Great Britain to the North West Continent of America’ (1739); John Ashley, Memoirs and Considerations concerning the Trade and Revenues of the British Colonies in America (1740); Archibald Kennedy, An Essay on the Government of the Colonies (1752)

Volume 4: 1753–63
Samuel Hopkins, Address to the People of New-England, Representing the very Great Importance of Attaching the Indians to their Interest (1753); Jonathan Mayhew, A Sermon Preach’d in the Audience of his Excellency William Shirley, Esq ([1754]); [John Shebbeare], Three Letters to the People of England (1756); [Henry McColloh], Proposals for Uniting the English Colonies on the Continent of America (1757); William Smith, Discourses on Several Public Occasions during the War in America (1759); James Otis, A Vindication of the Conduct of the House of Representatives of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay (1762); John Pownall, ‘General Propositions: Form and Constitution of Government to be Established in the new Colonies’ (1763)

Part II

Volume 5: 1764–68
William Bollan, The Mutual Interest of Great Britain and the American Colonies Considered (1765)
Charles Jenkinson, ‘Notes on the Right to Tax the Colonies’ (1765) (manuscript); William Knox, The Claim of the Colonies to an Exemption from Internal Taxes Imposed by the Authority of Parliament Examined (1765); William Knox, A Letter to a Member of Parliament, Wherein the Power of the British Legislature, and the Case of the Colonists are Briefly and Impartially Considered (1765); William Bollan, A Succinct View of the Origin of Our Colonies (1766); Anon, The Late Occurrences in North America, and Policy of Great Britain Considered (1766) ; Anon, Protest Against the Bill to Repeal the American Stamp Act (1766); Anon, The True Interest of Great Britain, with respect to her American Colonies, Stated and Impartially Considered (1766); Josiah Tucker, A Letter from a Merchant in London to His Nephew in North America (1766); Sir William Keith, Two Papers on the Subject of Taxing the American Colonies (1767); George Canning, A Letter to the Right Honourable Wills Earl of Hillsborough, On the Connection between Great Britain and her American Colonies (1768)

Volume 6: 1769–75
Anon, An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Present Disputes between the British Colonies in America and their Mother Country (1769); Sir Hercules Langrishe, Considerations on the Dependencies of Great Britain (1769); Thomas Pownall, State of the Constitution of the Colonies (1769); Anon, The True Constitutional Means for Putting an End to the Disputes between Great-Britain and the American Colonies (1769); William Bollan, The Rights of the English Colonies (1774); John Joachim Zubly, Great Britain’s Right to Tax Her Colonies (1774); John Cartwright, A Letter to Edmund Burke, Esq. Controverting the Principles of American Government (1775)

Volume 7: 1775–77
Anon, A Full and Circumstantial Account of the Disputes between Great Britain and America (1775); Anon, A Proposition for the Present Peace and Future Government of the British Colonies in North America (1775); Anon, Taxation, Tyranny. Addressed to Samuel Johnson (1775); Cradock Glascott, The Best Method of Putting an End to the American War (1776); John Roebuck, An Enquiry whether the Guilt of the Present Civil War in America ought to be imputed to Great Britain or America (1776); George Chalmers, An Answer from the Electors of Bristol (1777)

Volume 8: 1777–83
Allan Ramsay, Letters on the Present Disturbances (1777); Thomas Warwick, The Rights of Sovereignty Asserted (1777); Joseph Galloway, Considerations upon the American Enquiry (1779); D M Knight, A Proposal for Peace between Great Britain and North-America (1779); Beilby Porteus, A Sermon Preached before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal February 10, 1779 (1779); James Cornwallis, A Sermon Preached in the Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of Christ in Canterbury Feb 4 1780 (1780); Josiah Tucker, Dispassionate Thoughts on the American War (1780); David Williams, A Plan of Association, on Constitutional Principles (1780); John Almond, The Revolution in MDCCLXXXII Impartially Considered (1782); Edward Stratford, An Essay on the True Interest and Resources of the Empire (1783)

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