Information respecting the aborigines in the British colonies : circulated by direction of the Meeting for Sufferings : being principally extracts from the report presented to the House of Commons, by the select committee appointed on that subject by London Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends - 1843

London: Society of Friends, Direction of the Meeting for Sufferings printed by Darton and Harvey, 1843. 1st Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine. All first editions except one second edition dating from 1838 to 1843. 7 of the 8 reports originally published. 8 x 4-3/4 inches. Original brown stamped dark brown cloth boards. Blind stamped pattern on front and back with gilt type on spine. A couple of chips from the board covers, crushed and slightly chipped spine top, otherwise, very good+ condition. Insides are very clean and in fine condition. Overall condition is near fine. Sabin 34705 Contents of 7 of the 8 meeting reports published, date and number of pages follows; No. 1 - Information respecting the Aborigines in the British Columbia. 1838. xii + 60pp No. 2. - Effects of the Introduction of Ardent Spirits and Implements of War amongst the Natives of the South-Sea Islands and New South Wales. 1839. 21p No. 3.- Facts relative to the Canadian Indians. 1839. 24p. No. 4. - Report of tho Aborigine's Committee of the Meeting for Sufferings for the year 1840 ; with the Address to Lord John Russell ; that to Friends settling in New Colonies ; and some particulars respecting the State of Aboriginal Tribes. 1840. 20pp. No. 5. - An Address of Christian Counsel and Caution to Emigrants. [1841.] 7pp. No. 6. - The Report of the Meeting for Sufferings respecting the Aborigines, presented to the Yearly Meeting. 1843. Second edition. 12p. No. 7. - Further information respecting the Aborigines ; containing Reports of tho ·Committee of Indian Affairs at Philadelphia ; Extracts from the 'Proceedings of the Yearly Meetings of Philadelphia, New York, New England, Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio: together with particulars relative lo tho Natives of New Zealand, New Holland, aud Van Diemen's Laud. 1842. 40pp. Missing is the report " Further information respecting the Aborigines ; containing Extracts from the Proceedings of tho Meeting for Sufferings in London, and of the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia and Baltimore: together with some particulars relative to the Seminole War. 1839. 24pp. "having had under its serious consideration the circumstances of the Aborigines of the British Colonial Possessions, particularly the Indians in Upper Canada." Discusses a great body of evidence collected which is "deplorable and awful". Discussion of the African slave trade, "the sufferings of races the Christian world has oppressed, etc. incl. diminuation of their numbers, introduction to the tribes of loathsome and fatal diseases, also famine & conquest. Friends [Ie. Quakers] are reminded that although this applies to the whole class of Aborigines which demand their sympathy, the Aborigines of North America possess a claim of a strong and peculiar character upon our religious Society." With discussions of Quaker involvement w/ North American Indians & treaties with them by William Penn & others. Quaker efforts will immediately help the Canadian Indians and also American Quakers can help American Indians at the urging of British Quakers. Two members of the General Committee interviewed the Sec, of State for the Colonial department in reference to the treatment of Indians within Upper Canada and on the objectionable project of Gov. Head for removing them from their valuable settlements and reservations to the small rocky islands of Lake Huron and other districts further northwest (w/ extensive details).