ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURE AND VALUE OF CIVIL LIBERTY, AND THE WAR WITH AMERICA: ALSO, OBSERVATIONS ON SCHEMES FOR RAISING MONEY BY PUBLIC LOANS; AN HISTORICAL DEDUCTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL DEBT; AND A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE DEBTS AND RESOURCES OF FRANCE.
London: Printed for T. Cadell, in the Strand, 1777. xvi, 176 pp. Scattered light foxing. Very Good, in later half green calf [inner hinge cracked; 1930 bookseller's catalogue description on front pastedown].
The separately-issued 'Additional Observations' is a "continuation" [Adams] of Price's 'Observations on the Nature and Value of Civil Liberty.' Price embraces his adherence to the Natural Rights doctrine and its axiom that government requires the "dominion of EQUAL LAWS, made with COMMON CONSENT and not... of ANY MEN OVER OTHER MEN."
Of the War against America, "I cannot expect any other than a tragical and deplorable issue to this contest." The War "must shock the feelings and the reason of every considerate person; a war in which rivers of blood must be shed, not to repel the attacks of enemies, or to maintain the authority of government within the realm, but to maintain sovereignty and dominion in another world." From this perspective, he rebuts each British argument favoring the War.
Price also absolves the Colonists of responsibility for African Slavery. "It is not the fault of the Colonies that they have among them so many of those unhappy people. They have made laws to prohibit the importation of them; but these laws have always had a negative put upon them here because of their tendency to hurt our Negro trade."
FIRST EDITION. Howes P583. Adams, American Controversy 77-75a. Kress B.71. Item #40509
Price: $1,000.00