APERÇU DES ÉTATS-UNIS, AU COMMENCEMENT DU XIXe SIÈCLE, DEPUIS 1800 JUSQU'EN 1810, AVEC DES TABLES STATISTIQUES

(AMERICANA). BEAUJOUR, FELIX DE

Published by L. G. Michaud, [and] Delaunay, Paris, 1814

About this Item

203 x128 mm. (8 x 5 1/4"). 274 pp. Excellent contemporary sheep-backed paper boards, flat spine attractively gilt in compartments featuring starburst ornaments, festoons, and fields of stars, red morocco label. Folding map (bound in upside-down) and 17 tables, all but one of them folding. Sabin 4172; Howes B-288. â Very slight rubbing to spine, half title a little soiled, but AN ESPECIALLY FINE COPY, VERY BRIGHT AND CLEAN, AND EXTRAORDINARILY FRESH INTERNALLY. This "look at the United States at the beginning of the 19th century, with statistical tables," examines various features of the American scene, including topography, soil, transport, politics, governmental organization, principal cities, military defense, religion and morals, agriculture, industry, commerce, finance, trade, and international relations. The author's aim was to promote trade between France and the U.S., so his emphasis here is on economic topics, including public works, imports and exports, government revenues and expenses, and so on. In the lengthy tables given at the end of the book, the author has divided the American population into various classes according to the type of work each does, and a value in dollars is assigned to each class. For example, the total population of agricultural slaves numbers 800,000, and, at $200 per person, the aggregate value of the group is set at $160,000,000. Free farmers are valued at $400 a head, laborers at $500, sailors at $700, and fishermen at $900. Beaujour was the French consul general to the U.S. from 1804 to 1814, and while he was skeptical of Jeffersonian democracy, he did see the young country's potential to become a global leader in trade and commerce. Seller Inventory # ST16379-119

Bibliographic Details

Title: APERÇU DES ÉTATS-UNIS, AU COMMENCEMENT DU ...

Publisher: L. G. Michaud, [and] Delaunay, Paris

Publication Date: 1814

Edition: FIRST EDITION.