British Pamphlets on the American Revolution, 1763–1785

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Editor: Harry T Dickinson

From the end of the Seven Years War to the British acceptance of complete American Independence, British colonial policy was the subject of an intense print debate on both sides of the Atlantic. Until now, scholarly attention has focused on the American literature. This eight volume facsimile edition of selected rare British pamphlets widens the debate.

British opinion on the American crisis was sharply divided. What was the constitutional legitimacy of Britain’s American policies? Should the colonies be forcefully subdued? Should their bid for independence continue unopposed? Or should peaceful attempts at reconciliation aim to keep them within the British Empire? If the colonies were lost, what would the consequences be for Britain?

The pamphlets reproduced here represent the multi-faceted debate on both sides of the political divide in Britain. They are organised chronologically in two parts, taking the start of American armed resistance in 1775 as the dividing point. All of these rare documents are republished for the first time and are reproduced in full.

The edition will be of interest to those studying American Studies, British Studies, Empire and Colonial History, Atlantic Studies, and Eighteenth Century History.

• Editorial matter includes a general introduction, introductions to each part, headnotes to each pamphlet, endnotes, a chronology to each part, and a consolidated index
• The first time these rare documents have been republished
• All texts reproduced in full
• Sourced from libraries in the US and the UK
• Each facsimile page is digitally cleaned and enhanced, significantly improving on the quality and legibility of the original

Sample pages

• Volume 2: Anon., The Rights of Parliament Vindicated, on Occasion of the Late Stamp-Act (1766)
• The Rights of Parliament Vindicated, on Occasion of the Late Stamp-Act: endnotes

Contents

Part I: 1763–1776

Volume 1: 1765–1766
[Thomas Whately], The Regulations Lately Made Concerning the Colonies (1765)
[Soame Jenyns], The Objections to the Taxation of our American Colonies (1765)
[John Fothergill], Considerations Relative to the North American Colonies (1765)
Anon., Considerations on the American Stamp Act (1766)
Anon., The Justice and Necessity of Taxing the American Colonies, Demonstrated (1766)
Anon., The Crisis. Or, a Full Defence of the Colonies (1766)
[Thomas Pownall], Considerations on the Points Lately Brought into Question as to the Parliament’s Right of Taxing the Colonies (1766)
[Nicholas Ray], The Importance of the Colonies of North America, and the Interest of Great Britain with Regard to them, Considered (1766)

Volume 2: 1766–1774
J M of the Inner Temple, The Legislative Authority of the British Parliament, with Respect to North America (1766)
Anon., The Rights of Parliament Vindicated, on Occasion of the Late Stamp-Act (1766)
Anon., The Constitutional Right of the Legislature of Great Britain, to Tax the British Colonies in America (1768)
[John Erskine], Shall I Go to War with my American Brethren? (1769)
[Richard Phelps], The Rights of the Colonies and the Extent of the Legislative Authority of Great Britain (1769)
[Francis Maseres], Considerations on the Expediency of Admitting Representatives from the American Colonies into the British House of Commons (1770)
[John Gray], The Right of the British Legislature to Tax the American Colonies Vindicated (1774)
Anon., The Right of the British Legislature to Tax the Colonies Considered (1774)
William Allen, The American Crisis (1774)

Volume 3: 1774–1775
[Joseph Cawthorne], A Plan to Reconcile Great Britain & Her Colonies, and Preserve the Dependency of America (1774)
[Joseph Priestley], An Address to Protestant Dissenters … with Respect to … American Affairs in Particular (1774)
Anon., A Letter to a Member of Parliament on the Present Unhappy Dispute between Great-Britain and her Colonies (1774)
[William Knox], The Interest of the Merchants and Manufacturers of Great Britain, in the Present Contest with the Colonies (1774)
Anon., A Plan for Conciliating the Jarring Political Interests of Great Britain and Her North American Colonies (1775)
Anon., The Supremacy of the British Legislature over the Colonies (1775)
London Merchants to the Honourable House of Commons, The Humble Petition of the Merchants … of London, Concerned in the Commerce of North America (1775)
Anon., Conciliatory Address to the People of Great Britain and of the Colonies, on the Present Important Crisis (1775)
Anon., The Pamphlet, Entitled, ‘Taxation No Tyranny,’ Candidly Considered (1775)

Volume 4: 1775–1776
Anon., Resistance No Rebellion (1775)
[Caleb Evans], A Letter to the Rev. Mr. John Wesley, Occasioned by his Calm Address to the American Colonies (1775)
[Capel Lofft], A View of the Several Schemes with Respect to America (1776)
[Obadiah Hulme], A Plan of Reconciliation between Great Britain and Her Colonies (1776)
Anon., A Short Appeal to the People of Great Britain; upon the Unavoidable Necessity of the Present War with our Disaffected Colonies (1776)
[Alexander Wight], Considerations on the Late Act for Prohibiting all Commercial Intercourse with the Rebellious Colonies (1776)
A Country Curate, American Resistance Indefensible (1776)
East Apthorp, A Sermon … Imploring Victory and Perpetual Peace to the British Empire (1776)
Joshua Toulmin, The American War Lamented (1776)

Part II: 1776–1783

Volume 5
Anon., Independency the Object of the Congress in America (1776)
Anon., Considerations on the American War, addressed to the People of England (1777)
George Campbell, The Nature, Extent, and Importance of the Duty of Allegiance . . . on Account of the Rebellion in America (1777)
Alexander Carlyle, The Justice and Necessity of the War with our American Colonies (1777)
Anon., The Case Stated . . . between Great Britain and her Colonies (1778)

Volume 6
Anon., A Conciliation with America Adapted to the Constitutional Rights of the Colonies and the Supremacy of Great Britain (1778)
Anon, The Conciliatory Bills considered (1778)
Anon., Proposals for a Plan towards a Reconciliation and Re-Union with the Thirteen Provinces of America, and for a Union with the Other Colonies (1778)
[John Cartwright?] The Memorial of Common Sense, upon the present crisis between Great Britain and America (1778)
David Hartley, Letters on the American War (1778)
Anon., An Essay on the Interests of Britain in regard to America, or, an Outline of the Terms on which Peace may be restored to the Two Countries (1780)
Anon., A Plan or Articles of Perpetual Union, Commerce and Friendship, between Great Britain and her American Colonies (1780)

Volume 7
David Hartley, Draught of a Proposed Bill for Conciliation with America (1780)
Anon., Free Thoughts on the Continuation of the American War, and the Necessity of its Termination (1781)
Ellis Henry, National Calamities the necessary Effects of National Wickedness (1781)
Anon., A Plan of Reconciliation with America, Consistent with the Dignity and Interests of Both Countries (1782)
Anon., The Recovery of America demonstrated to be practicable by Great Britain (1782)
Anon., A Word at Parting to the Earl of Shelburne (1782)
Anon., An Enquiry, whether the Absolute Independence of America is not to be prefer’d to her Partial Dependence (1782)
Edmund Jen[n]ings, Considerations on the Mode and Terms of a Treaty of Peace with America (1782)
Thomas Tod, Consolatory Thoughts on American Independence (1782)
Joseph Williams, Considerations on the American War (1782)

Volume 8
Anon., A Letter to the Earl of Shelburne on the Peace (1783)
Anon., Thoughts on the Present War (1783)
Board of American Loyalists, The Case and Claim of the American Loyalists impartially Stated and Considered (1783)
[Andrew Kippis] Considerations on a Provisional Treaty with America (1783)
William Meredith, A Letter on the Preliminaries of Peace (1783)

Related titles

• British Visions of America, 1775–1820 : Republican Realities
• Gilbert Imlay : Citizen of the World
• Tea and the Tea-Table in Eighteenth-Century England
• The American Colonies and the British Empire, 1607–1783
• The Foundations of the American Economy : The American Colonies from Inception to Independence

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