The revolution of America / by the Abbé Raynal

1. Distressed state of England in 1763.-- 2. England calls her colonies to her aid.-- 3. England exacts from her colonies what she should but have requested.-- 4. After having given way, England would be obeyed by her colonies. Measures which they take to resist her.-- 5. The colonies were in the right to separate themselves from their mother-country, independently of all discontent.-- 6. What was the part which England should have taken, when she saw the fermentation of her colonies.-- 7. England determines to reduce her colonies by force.-- 8. The colonies break the ties which united them to England, and declare themselves independent of her.-- 9. Commencement of the war between the United States and England.-- 10. Why the confederate provinces did not succeed in driving the English from the continent of America.-- 11. France acknowledges the independence of the United States. This measure occasions war between this crown and that of England.-- 12. Spain, not having succeeded in reconciling England and France, declares for the latter power.-- 13. What ought to be the politics of the House of Bourbon, if victorious.-- 14. What idea should be formed of the thirteen united provinces.

First published in 1781, this work of the Abbé Raynal (1713-69) is the English translation of the last volume of his widely known and influential Philosophy and Political History of the East and West Indies which first appeared in 1770. Raynal's work begins with a description of the distressed state of England in 1763 and her calls for help from the colonies in the build-up to the war. Written during the Revolution itself, the book speculates about the ending of the conflict in chapters entitled 'What ought to be the politics of the House of Bourbon, if victorious' and 'What idea should be formed of the thirteen united provinces'. Raynal's work was heavily criticised by, among others, Thomas Paine, who published A Letter Addressed to the Abbé Raynal on the Affairs of North-America (also reissued in this series) in 1782, correcting what he perceived as Raynal's mistakes and false assumptions.