About this Item
96,89-190pp. (M gathering repeated). Titlepage with ornamental border, woodcut head- and tail-pieces, and initials. Original grey paper wrappers, stitched as issued. Wear and light soiling to wrappers, lower fifth of rear wrapper torn away, lacking backstrip. One-inch closed tear along woodcut border on titlepage (no loss of text), closed tear spanning half of leaves G4 and O1 and a one- inch closed tear to the outside margin of leaf V2 (no loss of text), occasional ink spots or fingerprints, light foxing and tanning throughout. Good plus, and in original, unsophisticated condition. A rare and well-preserved copy of the PROCEEDINGS from the June, September, and December 1786 sessions of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. All three sessions were issued separately as well as together, as here; Evans records them separately. Included are petitions submitted for consideration from the House, communications from the Senate, votes (with lists of who voted Yea and Nay), approvals to build roads and churches, as well as notes on more colorful incidents, such as the aftermath from the Paper Money Riot (Exeter Rebellion) of September 20, 1786. In the wake of the Revolution, the country as well as individual states, cities, and many citizens were deeply in debt. The lack of specie and paper currency in circulation made the payment of debts difficult. Many New Hampshire towns drafted petitions to the legislature over the issue of paper currency, calling for the printing of paper money in the form of paper notes on credit, but the legislature did not act quickly enough for many. Eventually rebels in Rockingham County armed themselves and marched on Exeter (where the September session was meeting) to demand that the New Hampshire General Court immediately issue paper currency. President (i.e. governor) John Sullivan was able to calm the situation long enough to muster the militia, which subdued and dispersed the mob. Several mob leaders and others were captured and arrested, but were all eventually pardoned. However, rebels who had also been militia members were dismissed. Accordingly, for the following day of the session (September 21), the House "Voted, That the President be requested to return the thanks of both Houses to the brave officers and soldiers of the militia, for the great zeal and alacrity they have discovered in supporting the constitutional authority of the state; and for displaying a spirit of patriotism and publick virtue." The House also established a committee, including members of the Senate, "to take into consideration what method shall be taken, respecting the prisoners taken this day, and report thereon." New Hampshire was the first state in the emerging United States to draft a constitution. On January 5, 1776, six months before the U.S. claimed self-government, New Hampshire issued its first constitution; the House of Representatives was established the following day. A new constitution was approved in 1784, and this version remains in force, albeit with a number of amendments. Determined to keep the government truly of the people, New Hampshire founders fixed the size of the House of Representatives as a direct ratio to the state's population. The first House consisted of 87 members, each one representing 100 families. As the population increased, the number of representatives grew, until there were 443. In 1942 a constitutional amendment limited the size of the House to 400, but not less than 375 members. As a result, the New Hampshire House is the largest state legislative body in the country. George Jerry Osborne (1761-1800) was a leading printer in Portsmouth. In addition to printing the journals of the House (John Melcher printed the Senate journals), he also published (with John Osborne) OSBORNES' NEW- HAMPSHIRE SPY, the leading Federalist newspaper in the state and the official newspaper and personal platform of General John Sullivan, then governor of New Hampshire, and the person who spearheaded t. Seller Inventory # WRCAM56751
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