POSTLETHWAYT (Malachy). Great-Britain's True System: wherein is clearly shown, I. That an increase of the Public Debts and taxes must, in a few years, prove the ruin of the Monied, the Trading, and the Landed Interests. II. The necessity of raising the Supplies to carry on War, within the year. III. That such a design, however seemingly difficult, is very practicable: with a sketch of various schemes for that purpose. IV. An Expedient which will support the Public Credit, in all times of Public Distress and Danger. To which is prefixed, an Introduction, relative to the forming a New Plan of British politics, with respect to our foreign affairs, and our connections on the Continent.1757

London: Printed for A. Millar; J. Whiston, and B. White, and W. Sandby, First edition, 8vo (200 x 125 mm), [8], cl, 363, [1]pp., blind stamp on title and following leaf, library bookplate on front paste-down, contemporary calf, rubbed and chipped, joints broken and just holding by the cords, faint white number visible on spine. "Improvement of British commerce formed the inspiration for Postlethwayt's final major works, Britain's Commercial Interests Explained and Improv'd and Great Britain's True System, both published in 1757. The former, though not a very innovative work, was especially strong on advocating expansion of the Union by including Ireland and encouraging agricultural improvement to cheapen the necessities of life, permitting lower wages and increased competitiveness in foreign markets. They were also designed to secure his own self-improvement through patronage, a strategy which was apparently unsuccessful. Together with the dictionary, these books contained the economic contributions for which Postlethwayt has been largely noted in the literature on the history of economic ideas." - Oxford DNB. Sabin, 64565.