Observations on the nature of civil liberty, the principles of government, and the justice and policy of the war with America. To which is added an appendix, containing a state of the national debt, ...

Boston: Re-Printed and Sold by T. And J. Fleet, [1776].. Hardcover. Good. Octavo. 71, [i]pp. First American edition. Quarter morocco over marbled boards, repaired. ESTC W21343; Evans 15032; Adams, T.R. Amer. pamphlets, 224w. There were four American printings of this work in 1776 shortly after its first printing by Cadell in February 1776 in London. The printers were: Fleet in Boston, Dunlap in Philadelphia, Loudon in New York, and Bruce in Charlestown. The priority of these American editions was not determined. I would like to set the dates of publication of the American editions of Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, . based on the advertisements found in the local newspapers of the day. The "Boston Gazette" of June 17, 1776, advertises the Boston publication as 'this day published.' The "Pennsylvania Packet" of July 1, 1776, advertises the Pennsylvania publication as 'on Friday next will be published and sold by John Dunlap, in Market-Street, Philadelphia, Observations . by Richard Price, D.D. F.R.S.' Since July 1, 1776 was a Monday, 'on Friday next' can be dated as July 5, 1776. The "New York Packet, and the American advertiser" of June 27, 1776, advertises the New York publication as 'Now in the Press, and very soon will be published, Observations ., by Richard Price, D.D. F.R.S.' June 27, 1776 was a Thursday. If the New York publishing house was as capable as the Philadelphia house, and there is no reason to believe that they were not, then they could have turned out the New York edition in four days, just as it was stated for the Philadelphia edition. This would lead us to believe that the New York edition was published on July 2, 1776. The "South-Carolina and American General Gazette" for the week of August 14-21, 1776 (Wednesday to Wednesday) advertises the Charleston edition as 'Just published, and sold by David Bruce, at his Printing-Office in Church Street, ., Observations . by Richard Price, D.D. F.R.S.' so that we can comfortable suggest a publishing date of mid-August 1776, thus making the final printing of 1776. Based on the advertisements in the local newspapers, the Boston edition takes precedence over the others, and should rightfully be called the first American edition (June 17, 1776). The New York and Philadelphia editions' publication dates are dangerously close (July 2, 1776 and July 5, 1776 respectively), but until further evidence emerges, the New York edition should be considered the second and the Philadelphia one the third. The Charleston edition, published a very short time before August 14-21, 1776, closes the loop as the last one to be published in 1776 and should be designated the fourth American edition.