Name/Title
An Address to the Inhabitants of the British Settlements in America upon Slave KeepingDescription
Rush identifies himself as the author of this unsigned address in a 29 April 1773 letter to Barbeu Dubourg (see Butterfield, Letters, 76). Butterfield (77-78, n. 2) says that this unsigned address, the first of Rush's "controversial tracts, and his first effort in behalf of the Negroes . . . is one of his most forceful productions and remains one of the most read-able."
Rare. Only 9 copies at auction in the last 125 years, the latest in 2004.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Custom Clamshell Box. Ink Stamp of “J. M. Onderdonk” on front pages, ink signature "George Onderdonk's Book, November 10, 1811" on last page.Other Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
ReferencesOther Number
Fox 1773-3, Butterfield, Letters, 76, Butterfield 77-78, n. 2General Notes
Note Type
Historical NoteNote
Benjamin Rush to Benjamin Franklin:
"Phila May 1st 1773
You will receive with this Letter a small Pamphlet which the public have ascribed to me. It was written at the Request of Anth: Benezet to promote and accompany a Petition to our Assembly to put a more complete Stop to the Importation of Negro Slaves into the Province. I have sent a Copy of it together with all those News Papers which contain the late Dispute between Govr: Hutcheson and the Counsil and Assembly at Boston to our good Friend Monsr. Dubourg of Paris. They are directed to your Care. Please to forward them by the first Opportunity."Note Type
Historical NoteNote
Franklin to Rush:
London, July 14. 1773.
Dear Sir,
I received your Favour of May 1. with the Pamphlet for which I am obliged to you. It is well written. I hope in time that the Friends to Liberty and Humanity will get the better of a Practice that has so long disgrac’d our Nation and Religion.Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
Six editions total. Five in 1773: three in Philadelphia, one in New York, one in Boston. One edition in 1775, in Norwich, CT.