HARPER,  Robert Goodloe. Observations on the Dispute between the United States and France, addressed.to his Constituents in May 1797. Sixth edition. Philadelphia printed. London: Reprinted for John Stockdale, 1798. 

(210 x 120 mm) pp. 109 + 11 p of printer’s ads. Clean text block. 

These Observations by Robert Goodloe Harper lay out the demands imposed by the newly post-Revolution France on the (also newly post-Revolution) United States. Harper viewed these demands as being coupled with threats and writes to dissuade America from conceding. Among pro-British Americans, Brits, and the Federalists, the party championed by Alexander Hamilton, Harper’s works were so popular that they were printed 19 times between his original delivery in 1797 and the turn of the century. 

The provenance of this piece has a bit of intrigue to it.

The name Ralph Creyke is written in top corner of title page. This is possibly the English politician

(1849-1908) or his father of the same name- one of whom bequeathed their name to an 1878 steamship.

Though the family hales from Yorkshire, Creyke the son, was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and Downing College, Cambridge. Its most recent provenance was a private collection of 18th century political works from a Cambridgeshire collector, further corroborating the Creyke origin.

The extensive English Short Title Catalogue lists this version in only one collection: the John Rylands Library in Manchester.

(ESTC T200862)

MB376