Des colonies, et de la révolution actuelle de l'Amérique.

Paris, F. Béchet, A. Egron (facing title page: se vend à Londres chez Boussange et Masson), 1817.. FIRST EDITION. 2 volumes. 8°, contemporary tree calf (one corner worn; other very minor binding wear; boards slightly bowed), boards with borders ruled in blind, edges of boards as well as head and foot of spine milled, smooth spine richly gilt with red and green morocco lettering and numbering pieces, gilt letter, marbled endleaves, text-block edges marbled, crimson silk place markers. In very good to fine condition. Publisher's signature "Bechet" below printed authentication statement on verso of title page of volume I. Contemporary inscriptions "Conde de Rio Maior Antonio" on half titles. (2 ll.), xxxii, 403 pp., (1 l. errata); (2 ll.), 394 pp., (1 l. errata). *** First edition thus; a significantly revised version of the author's Les Trois Ages des Colonies, ou de leur état passé, présent et a venir (3 volumes, 1801-1802). This is perhaps the most intellectually impressive of the author's writings, and one of his most important works. It discusses the political economy of European colonies in America, Africa and Asia, from a theoretical, historical, and practical point of view. Chapter II, volume I is titled "Colonies Portugaises" (pp. 12-42). There are similar chapters on Dutch (pp. 43-62), English (pp. 63-89), French (pp. 90-118) and Spanish (pp. 119-156) colonies. Chapters X and XI are on "Des compagnies exclusives de commerce", and "Du commerce exclusif des Métropoles avec les Colonies". Chapter XII deals with "De l'esclavage dans les Colonies - Saint-Domingue" (pp. 257-323). Volume II has chapters on the need for change in colonies, the separation of colonies from their mother countries, and dependence and independence - for the most part greatly revised or completely rewritten. Chapters XX-XXIV are new to this edition; they are "Nécessité d'un Congrès colonial" (pp. 151-6); "L'Espagne peut-elle reconquérir et garder ses Amériques? - Que doit faire l'Espagne?" (pp. 157-203); "Des Droits de l'Europe dans la guerre de l'Espagne contre ses Amériques" (pp. 204-47); "De l'Influence des Colonies sur les Marines de l'Europe (pp. 248-70); and "Que doivent faire pour leurs Colonies les puissances inférieures en marine" (pp. 271-7). Chapters XXVI-XXVII are "Plan proposés pour les Colonies" (pp. 278-89); "Plan pour les Colonies" (pp. 290-9); and "Avantages, Pertes e Dédommagemens dans le Plan des Colonies" (pp. 300-21). Chapter XXIX is titled "De l'Empire anglais dans l'Inde, et de sa durée" (pp. 324-49). Chapter XXX, "Que deviendront les États-Unis?" (pp. 350-94), is completely new to the present edition.Pradt (1759-1837) was born in Allanches (Auvergne) and received a doctorate of theology from the Université de Paris in 1786. In 1789 he was elected to the États Généraux, where he defended the interests of the clergy until fleeing to Germany after the outbreak of the French Revolution. For the next decade he lived in Hamburg and Münster, where he published several works critical of the Revolution. Returning to France in 1800, Pradt soon earned Napoleon's favor, and with it appointments as bishop of Poitiers (1805) and archbishop of Malines (1808). He undertook several diplomatic missions for Napoleon but, unable to serve Church and State equally, found the work increasingly repugnant. Pradt renounced his office in 1816, immediately placing his pen in the service of liberal ideas and against monarchy. Of Pradt's fifty or so published works, all but a handful appeared in 1816 and later. Among them are Des trois derniers mois de l'Amérique Meridionale et du Brésil (1817) and Les six derniers mois de l'Amérique et du Brézil (1818).Provenance: D. António de Saldanha Oliveira Jusarte e Sousa (Azinhaga, 1776-Vienna, 1825), second Conde de Rio Maior, eldest son of the first count, grandson of the first Marquês de Pombal, army officer, and confidant of D. João, the Prince Regent, later King D. João VI. He accompanied the royal family to Brazil in 1807, returning with the King to Portugal in 1821. Shortly afterwards he was sent on an abortive mission to Brazil, and in 1823 he was charged with the thankless task of accompanying the Infante D. Miguel when that prince was sent into forced exile. The Casa da Anunciada library of the Counts of Rio Maior was one of the best private libraries ever formed in Portugal. It was dispersed for the most part not long after the April 1974 Portuguese revolution.*** Sabin 64882. On the author, see Nouvelle biographie générale XL, 970-3.