Descripción:
Two Volumes. Octavo. [xvi] 587pp with 4 engraved plates, [xii] 584pp with 4 engraved plates. Both volumes beautifully rebound in green half calf with Morocco and gilt spine labels over original marbled boards. All edges marbled.
James Silk Buckingham spent four years in the United States, and in 1839 travelled across the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia and Alabama to observe at first hand the inhumane treatment of slaves in a system that showed "reckless indifference to human life". This two-volume work documents Buckingham's findings and argues that the USA should follow Britain's example in abolishing slavery. Buckingham describes the use of slaves in industries as diverse as gold mining, cotton manufacturing, railways, canals, and agriculture. He highlights the economic, social and political implications of a change to free labor, and also relations between the slaves and their employers. Howes B923.