Recherches Historiques et Politiques sur les Etats-Unis de l'Am‚rique Septentrionale, O— l'on Traite des ‚tablissemens des treize Colonies, de leurs rapports & de leurs dissensions avec la Grande-Bretagne, de leurs gouvernemens avant & aprŠs la r‚volution, &c. par un Citoyen de Virginie. Avec quatre Lettres d'un Bourgeois de New-Heaven [sic] sur l'Unit‚ de la L‚gislation. A Colle, et se trouve -

A Paris, Chez Froull‚, libraire. Quai des Augustins; au oin de la rue Pavee. 1788. In 8's., 19.3cm, First Edition, in 4 volumes, xvi,383,[1](Errata) & 259 & 292 & 366pp., in contemporary quarter tan calf marbled boards, gilt boards and panel device decorations, double red morocco labels, complete with half-titles, some slight edge wear, overall clean and internally sound fine set, rare. (cgc). Monaghan 1052. Howes M-456. Sabin 47206. JCB 3208. The author was an Italian by birth who settled in Virginia in 1773 and became a close neighbor of Thomas Jefferson. His purpose was to introduce the cultivation of the grape and the olive but, through Jefferson's influence, became active in the movement for independence and from 1779 to 1783 acted, on behalf of Patrick Henry, as agent for Virginia to obtain supplies in Italy. The work is an interesting study of the Colonies' historic ties with England and of the reasons behind the dissensions and ultimate separation. There are criticisms of similar works by Raynal and Mably, and there are chapters on slavery and on the Indians ("these people are called savages, because their customs differ from ours, which we think the perfection of good breeding; they have the same opinion of theirs"). There are also comments on recently published works on the United States, among which he gives Jefferson's "Notes" and Jefferys' American Atlas very high marks. A most interesting work on the American Revolution and on the economic and political life in the United States at this crucial period. Both Howes and the Dictionary of American Bibliography suggest that Jefferson assisted Mazzei in this work.