Name/Title
Proud history of paDescription
PROUD, Robert.  History of Pennsylvania, in North America, from the Original Institution and Settlement of that Province, under the First Proprietor and Governor William Penn, in 1681, Till after the Year 1742; with an Introduction, Respecting, the Life of W. Penn, Prior to the Grant of the Province, and the Religious Society of the People Called Quaker;--with the First Rise of the Neighbouring Colonies, More Particularly of West New-Jersey, and the Settlement of the Dutch and Swedes on Delaware. To Which Is Added a Brief Description of the Said Province, and of the General State, in Which It Flourished, Principally between the Years 1760 and 1770. The Whole Including a Variety of Things, Useful and Interesting To Be Known, Respecting that Country in Early Time, &c. with an Appendix.
Phila.: Printed and Sold by Zachariah Poulson, Junior, 1797. 1st ed. 2 Vols. 508;373,146pp.
HOWES P-639, "aa." Sabin 66223. Evans 32729, 34421.
With a four- line holograph by Proud affixed to the front pastedown of Volume One.
Proud quotes some lines from Thomas Makin's Description Pennsylvaniae" (1729) and corrects them, "His humble cottage vies his large Domain/Improv'd in Part, where Peace & Plenty reign/Plain furniture, but useful, he doth chuse/And wisely values every thing by Use." Proud quotes some other lines from Makin's Latin poem and translates them on Page 212 of Volume One. Makin was a Clerk of Meeting and teacher of Latin at the Friend's School.
The first history of Pennsylvania.
"A learned and valuable work... The appendix contains several important documents and reprints...." Sabin. The frontispiece portrait is of William Penn, and the map shows Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
"Chancellor Kent is quoted as having remarked of Proud's 'History' that it 'is of great research, and abounds with valuable matter, but it is the most confused and tedious composition that ever tormented human patience." Nevertheless the work is of great importance and dependability"--Joseph Jackson, Literary Landmarks of Philadelphia (Phila.: David McKay Company, 19390, p, 264.