HONITON, DEVON, DECEMBER 13TH, 1792. AT A NUMEROUS AND RESPECTABLE MEETING OF THE INHABITANTS OF THIS TOWN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD, HELD THIS DAY, AT THE GOLDEN LION INN, IN THIS TOWN, TO SUPPORT THE KING AND CONSTITUTION, AS NOW ESTABLISHED. MR. EDWARD HOLLAND IN THE CHAIR. RESOLVED, THAT WE WILL FORM OURSELVES INTO A SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVING LIBERTY AND PROPERTY, AGAINST LEVELLERS AND REPUBLICANS. TO BE ENTITLED "AN ASSOCIATION FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION."
[Honiton, England: 1792]. Folio leaf, 16" x 13." Folded to [4] pp. Printed on verso of first leaf and recto of second leaf only. Light old folds, spine with early reinforcement tape. Text clean and bright. Very Good.
Public enthusiasm for the tenets of the French Revolution and Thomas Paine worried those who supported the established monarchy and British parliamentary government.
In response, Loyalists created local Societies like this one, pledging "that we will to the utmost of our power, & at the expence of every thing dear to us, maintain and support the Principles of the British Constitution, as established at the Glorious Revolution, whenever they shall be attacked with open Violence, or be secret and designing Treachery."
The Association expresses its "deepest Abhorrence of the Authors and Publishers of those seditious Pamphlets, which under the specious disguise of Liberty, are calculated only to promote Licentiousness and Disorder, to encourage Rebellion against the State, and Treason against Society." More than thirty supporters sign in type. E. Holland and C. Gidley sign in type as Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
ESTC records this rare document only at the British Library. OCLC does not list it.
ESTC T22340 [1- British Library]. Not on OCLC as of March 2026. Item #41771
Price: $1,250.00