The Rights of Great Britain Asserted Against the Claims of America..

1776. Glasgow: 1776. Glasgow: 1776. A Response to the Second Continental Congress [MacPherson, James (1736-1796), Attributed]. The Rights of Great Britain Asserted Against the Claims of America: Being an Answer to the Declaration of the General Congress. With Additions. Glasgow: Printed From The Fourth London Edition, 1776. [ii], 78 pp. With a half-title and folding table. Octavo (6-1/2" x 3-3/4"). Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Moderate toning, light foxing to a few leaves, lower outside corner of half-title lacking, light edgewear to folding table, last few leaves starting at foot but secure. $950. * Published in response to the Second Continental Congress's Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, which is reprinted on pp. 69-78. The work, which sets forth Great Britain's position on America's complaints, was written "with access to original papers, accurate estimates, and authentic dispatches" as well as Parliamentary records (Advertisement). It was disseminated widely and went through 20 editions in Great Britain, Ireland, America and France. Its authorship is disputed. Cohen writes that "Adams makes a pursuasive [sic] case for attributing it to James MacPherson (1736-1796), a Scottish poet and translator who also served as a political writer for Lord North. It has also been attributed to Sir John Dalrymple (1726-1810) and to Henry MacKenzie and Lord George Germaine" (internal citation omitted). MacPherson is perhaps best known as teh author of the Ossian Poems. See Cohen, Bibliography of Early American Law 6636. Adams, American Independence 220p. Adams, The American Controversy 75-95q. English Short-Title Catalogue N12887. (Inventory #: 81671)