Beschreibung:

HORSMANDEN, Daniel (1691-1778)]. A Journal of the Proceedings in the Detection of the Conspiracy Formed by Some White People, In Conjunction with Negro and Other Slaves, for Burning the City of New York in America, and Murdering the Inhabitants...by the Recorder of the City of New-York . New York: James Parker 1744. 4 o (260 x 195 mm). Woodcut printer's ornaments. (Very minor spotting to a few leaves, without the half-title and blank leaf 2D3.) Modern half brown morocco and marbled paper boards, gilt-lettered spine labels. A LARGE COPY, ENTIRELY UNCUT. FIRST EDITION, THE PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT OF THE SUPPOSED NEGRO PLOT OF 1741, which historian Justin Winsor terms "the darkest blot upon the history of New York." In the course of a long and at times hysterical investigation, some 154 blacks--mostly slaves, but including some freedmen--and 20 whites were indicted on mostly circumstantial, hearsay evidence. In the end, as recorded in tables at the end, 18 blacks and two whites were hanged, 13 blacks were burned at the stake and 70 were transported to remote British colonies. The book constitutes "one of the most important printed records of the early history of New York City and the main source of information respecting the Negro Plot of 1741, an event which threw the city and even the colonies into a state of fear" (Church). EXCEEDINGLY RARE: no copy has been recorded in American Book prices Current since at least 1975. Church 951; Howes H-652 ("c," "Chief source on the 'Negro Plot' of 1741"); Sabin 33058 ("An excessively rare work"). Not in Streeter.