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English Review Journal Sympathetic to the American Cause Summarizes Pamphlets on the "American Controversy" During Critical Year of 1776
English Review Journal Sympathetic to the American Cause Summarizes Pamphlets on the "American Controversy" During Critical Year of 1776
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Revolutionary War

[AMERICAN REVOLUTION.] The Monthly Review; or, Literary Journal, vol. 54 (January – June 1776). London: Ralph Griffiths, 1776. 584 pp. + index, 5.25" x 8.5". Early red morocco backed marbled boards. Internally clean, bindings rubbed and spines darkened, a few chips.

 

Each monthly issue has a section entitled “American Controversy” with summaries of recent books and pamphlets about the growing unrest in the American colonies, written by both British and American authors. Pamphlets reviewed in these six issues include The Rights of Great Britain Asserted against the Claims of America: Being an Answer to the Declaration of the General Congress (145-49); The Critical Moment, on which the Salvation or Destruction of the British Empire Depends (230-31); Considerations on the American War (235-36); A Vindication of the Rev. Mr. Wesley’s “Calm Address to our American Colonies” (325); Remarks on a Pamphlet Lately Published by Dr. Price, Intituled ‘Observations on Civil Liberty’ (333-34); and dozens more.

 

The most important summary review is that in the June issue of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.

 

“The evident purpose of this celebrated performance, is to dispose the Colonists to renounce the King’s sovereignty, and assume the form and the rights of a distinct independent state.” (493)

 

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.... Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence....” (493)

 

“As the Author’s aim, in the preceding division, was to remove from the Colonists their prejudices in favour of the English constitution, generally, so he endeavours, in the present section, to render them averse from kingly government in particular.” (496)

 

“In this section the Author directly and undisguisedly urges the Colonies to a separation from Great Britain. But the arguments employed by him are so many, so various, and incapable of abridgment, that our Readers must be satisfied with an imperfect account of them.” (498)

 

“To the third American edition of this pamphlet (from which the present impression was made) an Appendix is added, to support, by additional arguments, the plan of independency. Speaking therein of the present state of America, the Author says, it ‘is truly alarming to every man who is capable of reflection. Without law, without government, without any other mode of power than what is founded on, and granted by courtesy.... Our present condition is, Legislation without law; wisdom without a plan; a constitution without a name; and, what is strangely astonishing, perfect Independence contending for dependence.’” (501)

 

“Respecting the merit or demerit of this Writer’s sentiments and views we shall offer no opinion, but leave our Readers to decide for themselves, it being probable that any judgment which we could form would be but partially satisfactory.” (501)

 

Immediately following the review of Common Sense is a brief review of Plain Truth, the author of which “controverts almost every proposition and opinion delivered by the writer of Common Sense.” In English editions, Plain Truth was often bound with Common Sense, but the reviewer admits that “it is written with such outrageous zeal, and contains so many scurrilous reflections against the Author of Common Sense and the supposed favourers of independency, that we may safely concluded...that the Congress either do not aim at separation from this country, or that their government is not of the tyrannical nature which some have chosen to represent it.” (502)

 

There are other important reviews here as well that relate to the American Revolution. The February and March issues includes an extended review of Richard Price’s Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, the Principles of Government, and the Justice and Policy of the War with America (141-45, 221-28), and the April issue includes an extended review of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations (299-308).

 

 

The Monthly Review (1749-1845) was a monthly periodical published in London. Founded by Ralph Griffiths (1720-1803), a Nonconformist bookseller, it was the first periodical in England to offer reviews. The Monthly Review generally supported the Whig reforming party in British government and took a more sympathetic outlook toward the claims of American colonists than its Tory and Royalist opponents. William Kenrick (1725-1779), the English novelist and satirist, was the editor from 1759 to 1766. George Edward Griffiths (1769-1829), the son of the founder, took over management of The Monthly Review on his father’s death in 1803 and edited it until 1825, when he sold it.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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