Soulés, François

Histoire des Troubles de l'Amérique Anglaise. London: T. Spilsbury for T. Booker, 1785



2 volumes, 8vo (9 1/4 x 5 3/4 in.; 235 x 146 mm, uncut and partially unopened). Printed on blue paper; very occasional spotting. Contemporary blue boards with paper spine, ms. title on spine; edges rubbed and a few spots, light blue half-morocco slipcases, gilt-stamped title on spine. 



With:



Histoire des Troubles de l'Amérique Anglaise. Paris: chez Buisson, 1787



4 volumes, 8vo (7 1/2 x 4 5/8 in.; 190 x 116 mm). Half title in each volume, 3 engraved folding maps of which two are on blue paper and have some outline color, errata leaf and 4-page publisher's advertisement at the end of volume 4. Contemporary mottled calf with blind-ruled borders, spines richly gilt, gilt-stamped titles on spines, red edges, in half-morocco slipcases; edges rubbed, some scuffmarks, wormtracks in upper cover of volume 3.

Papers of Thomas Jefferson, J.P.Boyd, ed., 10: 364–383, "Editorial Note," with an edition of Jefferson's comments and additional notes; W.H. Adams, The Paris Years of Thomas Jefferson (1997), p. 152

First and Second Editions of this history of the American Revolution written from the point of view of France.

It is useful to have both editions because the greatly enlarged second edition shows the contributions of the American Minister to France, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson's collaboration probably began with a personal consultation from Soulés (1748–1809) though he had already read the first edition and made extensive critical notes on it. These notes were toned down for presentation to the author and additional materials were also contributed, including a copy of Démeunier's Essai sur les Etats-Unis (1786).

Soulés did not adopt Jefferson's contributions uncritically, often rejecting facts and opinions offered by Jefferson, and was far less cooperative in adopting the American position as defined by Jefferson than Démeunier was (see Boyd). "He concluded his revision with a biting criticism of the failures of postrevolutionary American society ... instead of cultivating the soil and being content with their homespun lot ... Americans were hankering after luxury and high living ... Soulés had put his finger on one of Jefferson's own preoccupations; in the Notes he had written that since the war Americans, struggling to right their capsized economic boat, had become oblivious to everything except making money" (W.H. Adams).