Price, Richard

Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War with America. To Which Is Added an Appendix, Containing a State of the National Debt, an Estimate of the Money Drawn from the Public by the Taxes, and an Account of the National Income and Expenditure since the Last War. … The Ninth Edition. London: Printed for Edward and Charles Dilly, and Thomas Cadell, 1776

8vo (205 x 130 mm). Title-page, including the prefaces to the 1st aꦬnd 5th editions, table of contents; trimmed, but a bright and fresh impression. Later blue wrappersꦅ; light creases at head and foot. In a brown folding case.

The ninth edition♎ of this important tract by the English political commentator Richard Price, who championed the rights of the American colonies: "Our Colonies in North America appear to be now determined to risk and suffer every thing, under the persuasion, that Great Britain is attempting to rob them of that Liberty to which every member of society, and all civil communities have a natural and unalienable right." Price refuses the idea of war with America both philosophically and economically, fearing iไt would be financially devastating for England. The pamphlet sold out nearly immediately, was reprinted in fourteen editions, and helped to strengthen the resolve of American colonies.

REFERENCE:

Adams 76–118l; ESTC T12967; Sabin 65452