A modest address to the Commons of Great Britain, and in particular to the free citizens of London ..

2nd edition with the addition of some important facts. 5-1/4 x 8-1/8 inches. (2),[3]-36p. Disbound, lacking half-title. Alex Irvine previous owner name signed on title page. Very good condition. Quite scarce edition.

ESTC T59135 ; Sabin, 49820

Full title: A Modest Address to the Commons of Great Britain, and in particular to the Free Citizens of London, Occasioned By the ill Success of our present Naval War with France, and the Want of a Militia Bill. The Second Edition, with the Addition of some important Facts. Gentle Ways are first to be used, and it is best if the Work can be done by them: it is good to use Supplications, Advices and Remonstrances; but it must not be left undone if they fail. Sydney's Disc. on Gov. Chap. III. § 40

ESTC T81155 (first edition)

Cf Sabin 49820 for first edition of 34 p. Sabin notes the pamphlet "contains some reference to American topics"; p. 6 refers to the failure of the Treaty at Aix-la-Chapelle, the English' right and title to all of Nova Scotia, and the settlements upon the Ohio river; p. 7 refers to the preparations of the French for war in North America; on p. 8 the

intention of the British to attack the French fleet off Newfoundland; p. 9-10 to Braddock's defeat and Sir William Johnson's fortunately preserving the better part of the colonies; there are some other scattered references to America and the West Indies.

Content referring to the Byng affair:

"But this case is totally different when the rulers of a people are filled with follies and vices of every kind; when from their corruption of manners, and the insensible encroachment of M_______s, most dangerous mischiefs, and almost incurable usurpations of ill acquired power, threaten destruction to a freeborn people."

Content referring to the creation of a home militia was preferable to the spending of money on hired foreign occupiers:...it is impossible to constitute any free government for preservation, within the reach of ambitious neighbors, without entrusting the whole people themselves, and not any part separated and distinct from the rest, with the arts of war.

The Seven Years War was a global conflict which ran from 1754 until 1763 and pitted a coalition of Great Britain and its allies against a coalition of France and its allies. The war escalated from a regional conflict between Great Britain and France in North America, known today as the French and Indian War.