Description
First edition of A View of the Conduct of the Executive in the Foreign Affairs of the United States by James Monroe, published in 1797 in Philadelphia.
Octavo, lxvi, 407pp. Original binding, title in gilt on black morocco label affixed to spine. New endpapers, reinforcing text block. Untrimmed edges. Solid text block, worn corners, some chipping to edges of spine. Faint foxing to edges of leaves, clear and legible text.
(Evans 32491) (Howes M-727) (Sabin 50020)
A View of the Conduct of the Executive is a defense by Monroe of his United States Ambassador to the French Republic.
James Monroe (1758-1831) held many positions before his presidency, including Minister to France. Monroe faced criticism from George Washington’s administration that he was not adequately defending the Jay Treaty (between the United States and Great Britain, ensuring Commerce and Navigation) while in France. President Washington knew that Monroe was about to publish this book, so he asked Secretary of State Tim Pickering for a copy before publication. Washington made remarks in the margins of his copy, stating he “thoroughly disapproved of it and its author.”
