A Report from the Committee of Secrecy, appointed by order of the House of Commons to examine several books and papers laid before the House, relating to the late negotiations of peace and commerce, &c. Reported on the ninth of June, 1715. Together with an appendix, containing memorials, letters, and other papers referred to in the said report.

First edition, with a very pertinent provenance: from the library of Thomas, first earl of Coningsby (1657-1729), with his gilt supralibros on both covers (heavily embossed and consequently rubbed) - another example is held among the British armorial bindings at University of Toronto Libraries. "In April 1715 the Privy Council established a Committee of Secrecy on the Treaty of Utrecht [which concluded the War of the Spanish Succession, the French keeping Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Domingue and Tobago, Britain retaining Jamaica, Barbados, St Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands], chaired by Robert Walpole who was secretary of state of war from 1714 to 1717. Its purpose was to find evidence of treason by the Tories. The Whigs contended that the clandestine meetings which lead to the treaty were treasonous; although it was pointed out that no treaty was ever negotiated without private communications. The report of the Committee was published in June and led to a number of impeachments including that of Bolingbroke and Ormond, who both fled to James's Court in France" (Stephen Lalor, Matthew Tindal, Freethinker, 2006, p. 101). Coningsby, a leading and vociferous Whig politician, was a prominent member of the committee and his "tough handling" (ODNB) of the Tory poet and diplomat Matthew Prior "inspired Prior to revenge in the composition 'The Viceroy', in which Prior revived the charges brought against Coningsby in the abortive impeachment twenty years before" (ibid) and pilloried Coningsby as "Nero, tyrant, petty king". A lovely copy with a superb political provenance. Kress 2973; Sabin 69729 ("relates to the rights of fishing at Newfoundland"). Folio (323 x 200 mm). Contemporary panelled calf, decorative gilt spine, tawny morocco label, red speckled edges. Joints partially split but sound, much of gilt rubbed from spine, a few scrapes and light abrasions, one or two gatherings lightly browned. A very good copy, tall and crisp, complete with the licence leaf.…