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[ROYAL NAVY]. Observations upon a memorial sent from london to scotland, To Procure Petitions against the bill For Manning the Royal Navy.

London. Printed for T. Cooper, 1741. First edition.
8vo. 37pp, [1]. Uncut in modern marbled paper boards, printed paper lettering-piece to upper board. Lightly rubbed, spine dulled. Title page browned and stained at gutter, scattered spotting.
The first edition of a pamphlet decrying the practice of 'Impressing', or forcibly conscripting, unwilling sailors into the Navy, undertaken by so-called 'press-gangs'. The author appeals to a communal spirit of resilience, asking the readers 'Must we tamely submit to be their slaves?', and questioning the designation of such statements as 'inflaming the people'. Included subsequently is a response to this letter from the Annual Committee of the Royal Burrows, in which the practice of impressing is upheld as 'just and rational measures for the speedy and effectual manning of the navy'.
ESTC T129074.
£ 200.00 Antiquates Ref: 22029