Impartial Enquiry into the State and Utility
Item #81238
[MARTYN, Benjamin]. An Impartial Enquiry into the State and Utility of the Province of Georgia. London: W. Meadows, 1741. 1st ed. 104pp. Half title present. Later period style full leather, gilt spine title. Title page closely trimmed at head, affecting a small portion of two letters. Previous owners bookplate on front pastedown, else very good or better. Howes M-354. Sabin 45001. Streeter II, 1145. Clark I, 122 (ref). De Renne Catalogue I, 94. Very scarce. This copy is the variant issue described by Vail, without the price printed on the titlepage. Martyn was one of the main promotional writers for the colony of Georgia. He provides an account of the settlements and a warm and glowing description of the country. Includes a staunch argument against the use of slaves in the colony, sprinkled with harsh comments on the loyalty, productivity, and worth of their labor. "Martyn was secretary to the Trustees of Georgia. This book has also been credited to John Percival, Earl of Egmont. It is an answer to reports which were being circulated `to the Disadvantage of the Colony of Georgia,' particularly to five objections: (1) that the climate was unhealthy; (2) that the soil was barren; (3) that there were no products for trade; (4) that lands were granted on improper terms; and (5) that the colony would not be of any value without Negro slavery. These objections were answered with material `chiefly collected from the Evidence of Persons who have been in the Province.' These letters, ten in number, are printed in the Appendix, and dated largely in 1739 and 1740."
Price: $2,500.00