20 leaves; half-title as above, no title-page.
Jefferson mentioned this pamphlet in a letter to Joseph Priestley written from Philadelphia January 18, 1800: “
. . . the papers of Political arithmetic both in your’s & mr Cooper’s pamphlets are the most precious gifts that can be made
to us; for we are running navigation-mad, & commerce-mad, and navy-mad, which is worst of all . . .
”
He also quoted from it in letters concerned with political finance. See for instance the letter to John W. Eppes dated from Monticello, November 6, 1813.
[2804]
4.
Keith on the excellence
[of the
] British constitution.
KEITH,
George Skene.
A Prize Dissertation, on the excellence of the British constitution. By George Skene Keith, A. M. Minister of Keith-Hall and Kinkell.
Aberdeen: printed by
J. Chalmers & Co. for
F. and C. Rivington,
London;
W. Creech,
Edinburgh; and
Alexr. Brown,
Aberdeen,
1800.
30 leaves; printer’s imprint at the end. The margins are cut down, and it is possible that a presentation inscription was
cut away from the title-page--see the next entry.
Not in Watt.
Not in Lowndes.
This and the next following pamphlet were sent to Jefferson by the author who wrote from Keith hall
[
sic
--
Ed.
] by Aberdeen, June 22, 1801: “I take the Liberty of sending your Excellency two political pamphlets, one of them a Prize Dissertation on the Excellence
of the British Constitution, the other, a particular examination of the last French Constitution--The two contain as many
examples as I could easily get introduced--of the different beauties or defects both of ancient and modern governments . .
.”
George Skene Keith, 1752-1823, Scottish minister and miscellaneous writer. This was the Blackwell Prize Dissertation.
[2805]
5.
Keith’s examination of the French constitution.
KEITH,
George Skene.
A Particular examination of the new French constitution, which was offered to the people for their acceptance, or rather imposed
on them, in December, 1799. By George Skene Keith, A. M. Minister of Keith-Hall and Kinkell, author of “Tracts on the Corn Laws;” and on “Weights, measures, and coins,” &c.
&c. &c.
Aberdeen: printed by
J. Chalmers & Co. for
F. and C. Rivington,
London;
W. Creech,
Edinburgh; and
A. Brown,
Aberdeen,
1801.
First Edition. 50 leaves; list of errata and printer’s imprint at the end.
Initialled by Jefferson at sig. I. The margins are cut close, and a presentation inscription from the author has been for the most part cut away. It now reads:
the United States of America, from The A
For Keith’s presentation letter see the previous entry.
[2806]
6.
Morgan’s view of the finances.
MORGAN,
William.
A Comparative view of the public finances, from the beginning to the close of the late administration . . . by William Morgan, F. R. S.
London: printed, at the
Oriental Press, by
Wilson & Co. for
J. Debrett,
1801.
