Subjects
The American Colonies and the British Empire, 1607–1783
Editor: Steven Sarson
978 1 85196 948 7: 234x156mm: £350.00/$650.00
978 1 85196 949 4: 234x156mm: £350.00/$650.00
This eight-volume facsimile edition traces the evolution of imperial and colonial ideologies during the British colonisation 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. Throughout the eighteenth century, however, the British government grew increasingly interventionist and colonies bore tax burdens to the mother nation.
The works covers 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. The editor is careful to contextualise all sources and the edition benefits from a general introduction, volume introductions, headnotes and a consolidated index in the final volume.
This edition will be important for scholars of Atlantic History, American History and Empire Studies.
- Contextualises early American history within the colonial context
- Full editorial apparatus includes a general introduction, headnotes, footnotes, and a consolidated index in the final volume
- Each facsimile page is digitally cleaned and enhanced, significantly improving on the quality and legibility of the original text
Contents
These contents are provisional and will be confirmed closer to publication.
Part I: 1607–1763
‘Certeyn Notes and Observations Touching the Deducing and Planting of Colonies’ (c 1607-09); George Benson, A Sermon Preached at Paules Crosse the Seventh of May, MDCIX (1609); A True and Sincere Declaration of the Purpose and Ends of the Plantation begun in Virginia (1610); John Donne, A Sermon Preached to the Honourable Company of the Virginia Plantation (1622); [John White], ‘General Observations for ye Plantation of New England,’ (c1632); Sir John Boroughs, The Soveraignty of the British Seas (1651); (excerpts); William Ryley, Sr, ‘The Soveraigntie of the English Seas Vindicated and Proved, by Some Few Records Remayning in the Tower of London’ (c1652); Sir Philip Meadows, ‘Observations Concerning the Dominion and Sovereignty of the Seas’ (1673); Sir William Petty, ‘Dominion of the Sea’ (c 1674); John Evelyn, Navigation and Commerce, Their Original and Progress (1674); (excerpts); Josias Fendall, John Coode, A Complaint from Heaven with Huy and Crye & a Petition out of Maryland and Virginia (1676); [Nathaniel Crouch], The English Empire in America: Or a Prospect of His Majesties Dominions in the West-Indies (1685); (excerpts); John Palmer, The Present State of New-England Impartially Considered (1689); [Increase Mather], The Declaration of the Gentlemen, Merchants, and Inhabitants of Boston, and the Countrey Adjacent (Boston, 1689); John Coode et al, The Declaration of the Protestant Association (1689); [Edward Rawson], The Revolution in New England Justified (1691); Sir Philip Meadows, ‘Reflections upon a Passage in Sr William Temple’s Memoirs Relating to Our Right of Dominion in the British Seas’ (1692); [William Cleland], The Present State of the Sugar Plantations Consider’d (1713); 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 (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); (excerpts); John Ashley, The Second Part of Memoirs and Considerations Concerning the Trade and Revenues of the British Colonies in America (1743); (excerpts); [Archibald Kennedy], An Essay on the Government of the Colonies (1752); Jonathan Mayhew, A Sermon Preach’d in the Audience of His Excellency William Shirley, Esq (1754); [Archibald Kennedy], Serious Considerations on the Present State of the Affairs of the Northern Colonies (1754); John Shebbeare, Three Letters to the People of England (1756); ‘Some Instances of Matters relating to the Colonies in which the House of Commons have interfered’ (1757); Samuel Hopkins, An Address to the People of New-England (1757); [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); (excerpts); 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 to be Established in the new Colonies,’ (1763)
Part II: 1764–1783
[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); [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); John Gay Alleyne, A Letter to the North America, On Occasion of his Address to the Committee of Correspondence in Barbados (1766); [Anon], An Application of Some General Political Rules, to the Present State of Great-Britain, Ireland, and America (1766); [William Bollan], A Succinct View of the Origin of Our Colonies (1766); [Nicholas Bourke], The Privileges of the Island of Jamaica Vindicated with an Impartial Narrative of the Late Dispute between the Governor and the House of Representatives (1766); [Anon], The Late Occurrences in North America, and Policy of Great Britain Considered (1766); [Frances Maseres], Considerations on the Expediency of Procuring an Act of Parliament for the Settlement of the Province of Quebec (1766); [Kenneth Morrison], An Essay towards the Vindication of the Committee of Correspondence in Barbados (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); [Gervase Parker Bushe], The Case of Great Britain and America (1768); [George Canning], A Letter to the Right Honourable Wills Earl of Hillsborough, On the Connection between Great Britain and her American Colonies (1768); [Thomas Hollis, ed], The True Sentiments of America (1768) (excerpts); [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); [Anon], Letters to the Right Honourable, The Earl of Hillsborough on the Present State of Affairs in America (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); [Anon], The Twelve Letters of Canada (1770); [Matthew Wheelock], Reflections Moral and Political on Great Britain and Her Colonies (1770); Richard Nisbet, Slavery Not Forbidden by Scripture or a Defence of the West-India Planter (1773) (excerpts); [Anon], America Vindicated from the High Charge of Ingratitude and Rebellion (1774); [Anon], An Argument in Defence of the Exclusive Right Claimed by the Colonies to Tax Themselves (1774) (excerpts); [William Bollan], The Rights of the English Colonies (1774); [Anon], Colonising, or Plain Investigation of That Subject (1774); [Thomas Crowley], Dissertations, on the Grand Dispute between Great Britain and America (1774); [Anon], An Essay on the Present State of the Province of Nova Scotia (1774); [Anon], The Watchman’s Alarm to Lord North or the British Parliamentary Boston Port-Bill unwrapped being an Oration on the Meredian of Liberty; with some observations on the Liberty of the African (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); [Anon], An Essay on the Nature of Colonies (1775);
[Anon], A Full and Circumstantial Account of the Disputes between Great Britain and America (1775); [Anon], The Present Crisis (1775); [Anon], A Proposition for the Present Peace and Future Government of the British Colonies in North America (1775); [John Shebbeare], An Answer to the Printed Speech of Edmund Burke (1775); [Anon], Taxation, Tyranny Addressed to Samuel Johnson (1775); [Joseph Towers], An Address to Dr Samuel Johnson (1775); John Cartwright, Take Your Choice! (1776) (excerpts); [John William Fletcher], American Patriotism Farther Confronted with Reason, Scripture, and the Constitution (1776); Cradock Glascott, The Best Method of Putting an End to the American War (1776); Gov Johnston’s Speech on American Affairs on the Address in Answer to the King’s Speech (1776); Francis Maseres, The Canadian Freeholder (1776)(excerpts); Matthew Robinson Morris, Baron Rokeby, A Further Examination of our Present American Measures (1776) (excerpts); John Roebuck, An Enquiry whether the Guilt of the Present Civil War in America ought to be imputed to Great Britain or America (1776); [Anon], Essays Commercial and Political, on the Real and Relative Interests of Imperial and Dependent States (1777); [William Burke], The Letters of Valens (1777); [George Chalmers], An Answer from the Electors of Bristol (1777); Thomas Day, The Desolation of America: A Poem (1777); Matthew Robinson Morris, Baron Rokeby, Peace the Best Policy, or, Reflections upon the Appearance of a Foreign War (1777); [Allan Ramsay], Letters on the Present Disturbances (1777); [Thomas Warwick], The Rights of Sovereignty Asserted (1777); [Anon], An Appeal to Reason and Justice in Behalf of the British Constitution, and the Subjects of the British Empire (1778) (excerpts); [Anon], An Impartial Sketch of the Various Indulgencies Granted by Great-Britain to Her Colonies (1778) (excerpts); Joseph Galloway, A Letter to the People of America (1778); [William Tasker], Ode to the Warlike Genius of Great Britain (1778); [David Williams], Unanimity in all Parts of the British Commonwealth, Necessary to Its Preservation, Interest, and Happiness (1778); [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); [Anon] The History of the Civil War in America (1780) (excerpts); [Josiah Tucker], Dispassionate Thoughts on the American War (1780); [Josiah Tucker], An Earnest and Affectionate Address (1780); [David Williams], A Plan of Association, on Constitutional Principles (1780); Samuel Johnson, The Temple of Fashion: A Poem in Five Parts (1781); [John Almond], The Revolution in MDCCLXXXII Impartially Considered (1782); John Sinclair, Thoughts on the Naval Strength of the British Empire (1782); [Edward Stratford], An Essay on the True Interest and Resources of the Empire (1783)