A Journal of the Proceedings in The Detection of the Conspiracy formed by some White People, in Conjunction with Negro and other Slaves, for Burning the City of New York in America, and Murdering the Inhabitants. New York: Printed by James Parker 1744. [2], vi, 205, [1 errata], [2 blank], 16 pp. Printer's ornaments throughout. Lacking half-title as usual. 4to (258 x 194 mm). Untrimmed in original plain wrappers. Intermittent mild toning, some dust-soiling to title page, backstrip mostly lacking. FIRST EDITION OF AN INFAMOUS NEW YORK RARITY AND "THE MAIN SOURCE OF INFORMATION RESPECTING THE NEGRO PLOT OF 1741" (Church). The trials for the so-called Negro conspiracy of 1741 represent one of the most trying moments in colonial New York history. The outbreak of a series of fires downtown came on the heels of a difficult winter, a rapid increase in the slave and the Catholic immigrant populations, and English war with Spain. The city and the surrounding colonies were thrown into a state of hysteria and began indicting black slaves and poor whites, including Irish Catholics. "'Slavery,' says Eugene Lawrence 'has nowhere presented itself in a more odious form than in early New-York. The slaves for a small provocation were whipped and tortured ... It is supposed that they formed at this time about one sixth of a population of twelve thousand ... The rumor of a plot ... drove the most reputable citizens into deeds of unexampled cruelty. It forms the darkest blot upon the history of New York.'" (Wilson, Memorial History of New York, 2: 252). "A close examination of the testimony fails to show that the conspiracy was as widespread as was believed at the time. The fires and intended murders were probably only the revengeful acts of a few of the 20 whites and 154 negroes who were indicted on insufficient evidence. Two thirds of the accused were found guilty, and from the list at the end of the book we learn that of these 18 negroes and 2 white persons were hanged, 13 negroes were burned at the stake, and 70 were transported" (Church). Most of the adult New York City black male population suffered at least some time in jail as not even the testimony of their white masters was credited. This copy includes a DOCUMENT SIGNED by Horsmanden laid in, as Chief Justice of the Province of New York, oblong 8vo, April 12, 1768. Church 951; Howes H652 ("c") ; Sabin 33058 ("an excessively rare work"). Acquisition: purchased from William Reese Company, 1999, $14,500.
A Journal of the Proceedings in The Detection of the Conspiracy formed by some White People, in Conjunction with Negro and other Slaves, for Burning the City of New York in America, and Murdering the Inhabitants. New York: Printed by James Parker 1744. [2], vi, 205, [1 errata], [2 blank], 16 pp. Printer's ornaments throughout. Lacking half-title as usual. 4to (258 x 194 mm). Untrimmed in original plain wrappers. Intermittent mild toning, some dust-soiling to title page, backstrip mostly lacking. FIRST EDITION OF AN INFAMOUS NEW YORK RARITY AND "THE MAIN SOURCE OF INFORMATION RESPECTING THE NEGRO PLOT OF 1741" (Church). The trials for the so-called Negro conspiracy of 1741 represent one of the most trying moments in colonial New York history. The outbreak of a series of fires downtown came on the heels of a difficult winter, a rapid increase in the slave and the Catholic immigrant populations, and English war with Spain. The city and the surrounding colonies were thrown into a state of hysteria and began indicting black slaves and poor whites, including Irish Catholics. "'Slavery,' says Eugene Lawrence 'has nowhere presented itself in a more odious form than in early New-York. The slaves for a small provocation were whipped and tortured ... It is supposed that they formed at this time about one sixth of a population of twelve thousand ... The rumor of a plot ... drove the most reputable citizens into deeds of unexampled cruelty. It forms the darkest blot upon the history of New York.'" (Wilson, Memorial History of New York, 2: 252). "A close examination of the testimony fails to show that the conspiracy was as widespread as was believed at the time. The fires and intended murders were probably only the revengeful acts of a few of the 20 whites and 154 negroes who were indicted on insufficient evidence. Two thirds of the accused were found guilty, and from the list at the end of the book we learn that of these 18 negroes and 2 white persons were hanged, 13 negroes were burned at the stake, and 70 were transported" (Church). Most of the adult New York City black male population suffered at least some time in jail as not even the testimony of their white masters was credited. This copy includes a DOCUMENT SIGNED by Horsmanden laid in, as Chief Justice of the Province of New York, oblong 8vo, April 12, 1768. Church 951; Howes H652 ("c") ; Sabin 33058 ("an excessively rare work"). Acquisition: purchased from William Reese Company, 1999, $14,500.
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Suchauftrag anlegen![[HORSMANDEN, DANIEL. 1691-1778.]](https://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2010-07/31/8105307-63-1.jpg "Quelle: Bonhams London")
