The judgment of whole kingdoms and nations, concerning the rights, power, and prerogative of kings, and the rights, privileges & properties of the people: shewing the nature of government in general, both from God and man. An account of the British government; and the rights and privileges of the people in the time of the Saxons, and since the Conquest. The government which God ordained over the children of Israel; and that all magistrates and governors proceed from the people, by many examples in Scripture and history; and the duty of magistrates from Scriptur and reason. An account of eleven emperors, and above fifty kings, depriv’d for their evil government. The right of the people and Parliament of Britain, to resist and deprive their kings for evil government, by King Henry’s charter; and likewise in Scotland, by many examples.
Newport: Solomon Southwick, 1774.
Price: $1,000.00
About the item
Twelfth edition, corrected (but third? American edition). 156pp. Uncut. 8vo. Stitched self wrappers, minor dampstaining, some gnawing at lower corner in the rear not affecting text. Evans 13631; Alden 564; ESTC W27536.
Item #334554
A classic work on the duties of a monarch and the rights of citizens, first published in London 1710 but here issued in America on the eve of the American Revolution. The first American editions of Somers were published in Philadelphia (John Dunlap) and Boston (Isaiah Thomas) in 1773. This 1774 edition published by the noted Rhode Island patiot printer Solomon Southwick, the printer of the Newport Mercury and of the Rhode Island broadside edition of the Declaration of Independence.
Authorship is attributed to Lord Somers, the architect of the English Bill of Rights during the Glorious Revolution and the American editions are among the earliest appearance in America of the English Bill of Rights. This work was read by many of the Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
