The Trial of James Watson, The Elder, Before the Court of King's...
Trial of a Leader of an 1816 Plot to Overthrow the British Government [Trial]. Watson, James [1766?-1838], Defendant. The Trial of James Watson, The Elder, Before the Court of King's Bench, In Westminster Hall, On the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, And 16th June, 1817. For High Treason. Taken in Short Hand. Edinburgh: Printed for Alex. Jameson [et al.], 1817. [vi], 250 pp. Octavo (8-3/4" x 5-1/2"). Printed wrappers, edges untrimmed, bound in later patterned cloth, gilt-stamped title and date to spine. Light rubbing to boards and extremities, spine ends and corners bumped and lightly worn, front hinge starting, rear hinge cracked. Light toning to interior, very light foxing to a few leaves, light soiling to wrappers, ownership signature (of William Macmath) dated April 29, 1868 to inside of front wrapper. $150. * Only edition. Watson was tried for his role in the Spa Fields riot. This riot followed a pair of meetings held by revolutionaries at Spa Fields, Islington, England on November 15 and December 2, 1816. Opponents of the government, they resolved to encourage rioting and then seize control of the government by capturing the Tower of London and the Bank of England. Watson, Arthur Thistlewood and three other leaders were arrested and charged with high treason as a result. Watson was acquitted and the other three were released without trial. Thistlewood would go on to lead the failed Cato Street Conspiracy in 1820. OCLC locates 7 copies of this title in North American law libraries (Yale, Columbia, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, LA County, Library of Congress, Social Law).
Price: $150.00
Book number 74090