The State of the Nation, with a General Balance of the Publick Accounts.
London. Printed for M. Cooper at the Globe, Paternoster Row. 1748. Hardcover. 8vo, 19.3cm, (in 8's), [3], blank, 55p., complete with half title / advertisement leaf, folding rear table, (with some archival repairs), in quarter tan calf, gilt black morocco label along the spine, marbled boards, in fine condition. (cgc) Sabin 90620; Kress 4934; Goldsmith 8323; Describes the four capital funds constituting the National debt, all having their origin to those contracted before 1716. The first three, the South Sea, the General, and Aggregate were duty bearing, covering the interest on their capital, and bore a surplus. The surplus, however, was retained to pay the principal and interest in the fourth fund, termed the Sinking Fund. The four year war with Spain had added substantially to the debt. The author of the pamphlet was opposed to the war with Spain, supported by France. Blaming the Patriot Party who had allied themselves with the Tories to bring down Walpole, the author states: These last gentlemen finding that they could not thus effect their designs, formed a Scheme that had a very noble Prospect for its Basis, and if attended with Success, would effectually have answered the End proposed; that is, the making of the War general, and ruining the Minister; and thereupon engaged Admiral Vernon in an Expedition that proved extremely happy for their Scheme. In one of the Canada references, the author lauds Americans, stating that They proposed and under various Discouragements, effected the Conquest of Cape Breton. (1745). He further claimed that though the French appeared willing to cut its losses, the British were more ambitious, and not satisfied with only the possession of Cape Breton to endorse a peace, but rather hoped to have been possessed of Canada. The taking of Port L'Orient would have been a/nzoxt at had as the Conquest of Canada. and suggestion was made that a Machiavellian scheme to run the country deeply in debt had been afoot in order to deprive Britain of the ability to raise funds for supplies for the continuation of the war. By the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle, Cape Breton was returned to France. Item #39369
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