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, printed in New York by James Parker, 1744, the principal account of what is known as the "Negro Plot of 1741" or the "New York Conspiracy of 1741". The supposed plot was a large scale scheme to burn down and take over New York City. According to accounts, an initial fire was started on March 18, 1741, at Fort George, then Lieutenant Governor George Clarke’s home. Fires occurred at seemingly regular intervals before increasing in frequency, peaking on April 6, when four fires were started in a single day. A long series of events and suspicions, mostly fueled by hearsay, eventually resulted in the indictment of 154 black men, mostly slaves, and 20 white men. A chart at the back of the book thoroughly details the proceedings of the indicted men. In total, eighteen blacks and two whites were hanged, thirteen blacks were burned at the stake, and seventy were transported to remote British colonies. The event has been call "the darkest blot upon the history of New York". Bound in leather with gilt spine, marbled end papers, with bookplate from the Lutton Library, 7 1/2" x 9 1/2".

Competitive In-House shipping is available for this lot. Boards and spine rubbed, boards with a few surface scars, sporadic light foxing, mostly to beginning and end pages, binding tight.