Observations on the Dispute between the United States and France. To his Constituents, in May, 1797. Third Edition

Philadelphia Printed. London: Reprinted, by Direction of the Editor, at the the Philanthropic Reefer...and sold by Debrett and Wright...[inter alia]; and by all other Booksellers, Except John Stockdale..., 1798. 8vo (in 4s), pp. viii, 109 [110 Postscript], disbound. Harper's pamphlet was first published in American in 1797 and reprinted on both sides of the Atlantic at least thirty times in the next three years. The anonymous editor of this London printed explains who Harper is (representative to Congress from South Carolina) and provides a context for Harper's defiance of France's threats to seize goods on any ship bound for a British port. A note on the verso of the title-page explains that the editor had first offered the pamphlet to Stockdale to print, but Stockdale demurred, and it was published elsewhere. After its success, Stockdale promptly proceeded to publish pirated editions. The printing history of the work is probably still unsettled; the Preface here is dated 24 January 1798. See Howes H209; Sabin 30432. ESCT t086555.