Case of the Constitution of the island of Jamaica, 1678. An Original Trial Report from Cobbett's State Trials, part of the great 19th-century archive of courtroom history.
London: Cobbett's State Trials, 1810. Booklet - Unbound Pages. Very Good Condition. Item #373781
In 1678, a legal dispute concerning the constitutional rights of the island of Jamaica came before the Privy Council, raising fundamental questions about colonial governance and the limits of metropolitan authority. The case centred on whether the Governor and Council of Jamaica could impose laws and taxes without the consent of an elected Assembly, echoing tensions familiar from England's own constitutional struggles. Petitioners argued that the island's inhabitants, as English subjects, were entitled to the same protections and privileges, including representative government and trial by jury as those living in England. The proceedings revealed the ambiguities of imperial rule and the contested nature of colonial constitutions, with Jamaica serving as a test case for the balance between royal prerogative and local rights. The report, preserved in Cobbett's State Trials, offers a vivid glimpse into the legal architecture of empire and the early stirrings of colonial self-assertion. 26 pages, printed in double columns. Printed between 1809 and 1826, these historic documents are vivid extracts from Cobbett's State Trials; pages from the courtroom record that preserve the voices, arguments, and verdicts which helped shape the course of British justice and still echo through its constitutional legacy. Over two centuries old, each leaf is a tangible fragment of legal history, compelling, original, and rarely encountered outside institutional collections. These are not reprints or replicas, but authentic 19th-century printings that are rich in drama, and steeped in history. This particular trial report has been removed from a volume of Cobbett's State Trials and is now preserved in a modern card cover for practicality - an unassuming but serviceable presentation that favours function over finery. Size: 15 x 25 cms. Category: State Trials; State Trials::Octavo;.
Keywords: BZDB395 "Jamaica, Constitution, Colonial Law, 1678, Island Governance" State Trials; State Trials::Octavo; 1678 : JAMAICA AND THE RIGHTS OF ENGLISHMEN Case of the Constitution of the island of Jamaica, 1678. An Original Trial Report from Cobbett's St
Price: £12.95