Political Disquisitions: Or, An Enquiry into public Errors, Defects, and Abuses. Illustrated by, and established upon Facts and Remarks extracted from a Variety of Authors, ancient and modern. Calculated To draw the timely Attention of Government and People to a due Consideration of the Necessity, and the Means, of Reforming those Errors, Defects, and Abuses; of Restoring the Constitution, and Saving the State.

BURGH, James.

Published by London: Printed for E. and C. Dilly, 1774-75

About this Item

First edition of this seminal work of republicanism, a demonstration of the dangers of monarchical tyranny which profoundly influenced the founding fathers. John Adams praised Political Disquisitions as a work which "ought to be in the hands of every American" (quoted in Wood, p. 165). James Burgh (1714-1775) was among the most prominent Commonwealthmen of the late 18th century, drawing on the Glorious Revolution to emphasize limited government and individual liberty. In the Political Disquisitions, he advocates a model of mixed government with annual parliaments, secret ballots, and universal suffrage for male taxpayers. The Political Disquisitions were cited approvingly in Paine's Common Sense and in the Federalist Papers, while Washington, Jefferson, and Hancock are listed among the subscribers to the first US edition of 1775. Caroline Robbins judged it "perhaps the most important political treatise which appeared in England in the first half of the reign of George III" (p. 365). ESTC T69213; Sabin 9246; Sowerby 2720; Wilentz, Liberty and the American Revolution, p. 63. Caroline Robbins, The Eighteenth-Century Commonwealthman, 1959; Gordon S. Wood, The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787, 1972. 3 vols, octavo (208 x 123 mm). Contemporary sprinkled calf, spines ruled in gilt, red and green morocco labels. Near-contemporary engraved armorial bookplate of Edwin Sandys, 2nd Baron Sandys (1726-1797), to each volume. Joints and extremities restored, and one label replaced. Light rubbing and damp staining to extremities, minor browning and foxing to contents, finger soiling and ink marks to pp. 268-9 of vol. I: a very good copy.

Seller Inventory # 175969

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Political Disquisitions: Or, An Enquiry into public Errors, Defects, and Abuses. Illustrated by, and established upon Facts and Remarks extracted from a Variety of Authors, ancient and modern. Calculated To draw the timely Attention of Government and People to a due Consideration of the Necessity, and the Means, of Reforming those Errors, Defects, and Abuses; of Restoring the Constitution, and Saving the State.
• Publisher: London: Printed for E. and C. Dilly, 1774-75
• Edition: 1st Edition