Lectures on Colonization and Colonies: Volume 1
Delivered before the University of Oxford in 1839, 1840, and 1841

An influential series of lectures discussing the economic effects of contemporary colonization, first published in 1841.

Herman Merivale (Author)

9781108020930, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 October 2010

352 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.45 kg

Herman Merivale (1806–1874) was an English civil servant, historian and economist. After graduating from Trinity College, Oxford, in 1827 he was called to the bar in 1832. Merivale was elected Professor of Political Economy at the University of Oxford in 1837, and was appointed Permanent Under-Secretary to the Colonies in 1848. These volumes, first published in 1841, contain Merivale's influential series of lectures on the political economy of colonization which he delivered at the University of Oxford in 1839, 1840 and 1841. He discusses a broad range of topics related to colonization, analyzing its economic effects on the mother country through emigration and discussing the laws governing the generation of wealth and growth of colonies. His lectures also include an influential criticism of the Wakefield Scheme of colonization and provide valuable insights into contemporary opinions on the economic management of colonies. Volume 1 contains Lectures 1–11.

Part I. Historical Account of the Progress of the Colonies of Modern Europe: 1. Account of the colonies of Spain in continental America, up to the period of their independence
2. Spanish colonies in the West Indies. Portuguese, Dutch, and French colonies
3. Brief historical sketch of British colonization. British colonies in the West Indies. North American colonies, down to the period of their independence
4. Account of the present British colonies in North America, South Africa, and Australia
Part II. Economical Effects of Colonization on the Parent State: 5. Effects of emigration on the progress of population and wealth, and on the relations between capital and labour, in the mother country
6. Effects of the exportation of capital, which takes place in the process of colonizing, on the wealth of the mother country
7. On colonial trade, and the colonial system, as affecting the wealth of the mother country
8. The same subject continued
Part III. Progress of Wealth and Society in Colonies: 9. Elements of prosperity in new colonies: land, capital, and labour
10. Methods which have been adopted of securing a supply of labour in colonies
11. The same subject continued.

Subject Areas: Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH]