Torchbearer of Freedom \ 'i The Influence of RICHARD PRICE on EIGHTEENTH CENTURY THOUGHT I By CARL B. CONE ■ OF KENTUCKY PRESS LEXINGTON __ 3028721 COPYRIGHT, 1952, BY THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY PRESS PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY BY THE KERNEL PRESS AND BOUND BY THE KINGSPORT PRESS, INC. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 52-5902 1 '■'I To Mary Louise i I J T" PREFACE It is surprising how little mention is made of Richard Price in the histories of the last half of the eighteenth century when he was, in fact, one of the better known men of the era. The two previous biographies of Price, by his nephew William Morgan, and by Dr. Roland Thomas, are too brief to do jus­ tice to their subject. Neither portrays Price fully enough. My chapters on the American Revolution and the Constitution of the United States, for example, expand events upon which these earlier biographers scarcely touch. The burden of the chapter on the Constitution appeared in the American Histori­ cal Review (July, 1948), whose editor has kindly consented to the use of that article. I have discussed Price’s writings fully because they are not widely read or readily available today and because so much of Price’s career was literary. Among the persons who assisted me in gathering material for this book are Mr. Colton Storm of the William L. Clements Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Dr. J. H. Powell; Miss H. J. Williams of the County Library, Bridgend, Glamorganshire, Wales; Mr. D. C. Martin, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society, London; Mr. Robert F. Metzdorf; and Miss Norma Cass, reference librarian at the University of Kentucky. Mrs. Donald Burt typed the manuscript. The research committee of the University of Kentucky gave me some financial assist­ ance. Dr. J. Merton England, my office mate, offered useful advice, though he doubtless grew tired of hearing about Price. Carl B. Cone Lexington, Kentucky February 17, 1951 i k i' r I,, I i. !1 ■ I. I' TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE vii I THE GOOD DR. PRICE 1 II THE DISSENTING INFLUENCE 6 HI CLERGYMAN AND MORALIST 14 IV PRICE IN THE PULPIT 28 V MATHEMATICS AND LIFE INSURANCE 37 VI FRIENDSHIPS 52 VII THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 69 VIII ANSWERING CRITICS AT HOME 91 IX THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 103 X GLOOM YIELDS TO HOPE 125 XI THE SINKING FUND 142 XII' AFFAIRS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 152 XIII THE FRENCH REVOLUTION 177 XIV THE LAST YEAR 196 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 201 INDEX 203 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS RICHARD PRICE Frontispiece Facing page LORD SHELBURNE 62 “MOST FAMOUS BRITISH TRACT ON THE AMERICAN WAR” 76 JOSEPH PRIESTLEY 96 PLAQUE ON THE BRIDGEND PUBLIC LIBRARY 186 'SMELLING OUT A RAT” 192 ’ i ' 1 h A