Political Tracts and Speeches of Edmund Burke, Esq. Member of
Item #77148
BURKE, Edmund. The Political Tracts and Speeches of Edmund Burke, Esq. Member of Parliament For The City Of Bristol. Dublin: Printed for Wm. Wilson, 1777. [6],440pp. Titlepage vignette. Lacks half title. [bound with:] A Letter From Edmund Burke...To John Farr And John Harris, Esqrs. Sheriffs Of That City, On The Affairs Of America. Dublin: Printed for W. Whitestone, et al., 1777. [4],55pp. Half title. Antique-style half calf and marbled boards, spine ruled in gilt, gilt leather label. Contemporary ownership signature and faint institutional blindstamp on titlepage. Light foxing. Very good. An uncommon compilation of seven works and speeches by Edmund Burke, including much on the American colonies around the outbreak of the American Revolution. This compilation includes early reprints of some of Burke's best writings, originally published separately, with some of his early orations defending the actions of the American colonists. Burke was a Member of Parliament throughout the period of these speeches and tracts, and all but one at least touch upon the controversial issues in the American colonies. This edition of THE POLITICAL TRACTS uses the same sheets as an edition from the same year under the Whitestone imprint, but employs a new titlepage with the bookseller's name and imprint information in an engraved vignette. THE POLITICAL TRACTS includes the following works: 1) OBSERVATIONS ON THE LATE STATE OF THE NATION, 1768. Contains frequent discussions of the American colonies, and mainly a reaction to William Knox's PRESENT STATE OF THE NATION. 2) THOUGHTS ON THE CAUSE OF THE PRESENT DISCONTENTS, 1770. "Touches briefly on the effect of the current state of affairs in the colonies and the colonists' growing feeling of independence, but says: 'A volume might be written on this melancholy subject; but it were better to leave it entirely to reflexions of the reader himself than not to treat it in the extent it deserves" - Adams (1770 ed.). 3) SPEECH ON AMERICAN TAXATION, APRIL 19, 1774. Eloquent speech against excessive taxation of the colonies. Considered by many as the greatest oratory ever delivered in the House of Commons. 4) SPEECH ON HIS ARRIVAL AT BRISTOL. Burke touches on "our unhappy contest with America," and sets forth his task "to reconcile British superiority with A.
Price: $950.00