Republicanism, Sinophilia, and Historical Writing: Thomas Gordon (c.1691-1750) and his 'History of England' (Early European Research)

Thomas Gordon (c.1691-1750) Was A Prolific Scottish Journalist And Pamphleteer Working In Eighteenth-century London. His Works Circulated In A Variety Of Forms And For Many Years In Europe And The British North American Colonies. Gordon's Conception Of 'republicanism' Was Essentially That Of A Secular And Tolerant Society Free From Providential Designs; His Works Reflected A Lifelong Commitment To Defending The Rule Of Law, The Balance Of Powers, And The Rotation Of Representative Bodies. This Study Sets Out To Produce A Fuller Profile Of Gordon, To Investigate His Specific And Controversial Contribution As A Political Theorist, And Finally To Present For The First Time An Annotated Edition Of His Unfinished And Unpublished (mainly Medieval) History Of England: A Highly Readable Text Whose Main Metanarrative Theme Is The Struggle Between 'the Government Of Will' And 'the Government Of Laws'- With The Struggle Between 'god's Will' And 'the Will Of The Clergy' As An Essential Rhetorical Subtheme. The Book Also Deals With A Hitherto Unexplored Aspect Of Gordon's Thinking, His Sinophilia. Gordon's 'sensible Chinese' Is Drawn In As A Rhetorical Tool To Voice Bitter Judgements On Both Catholic And Protestant Inconsistencies. By Resorting To The Utopian Model Of A Distant Orient, Gordon Aimed To Expose The Severe Impact On Western Societies Of Clerical Interference In State Affairs, Concluding That 'men Who Are Oppressed, Or Who Foresee Inevitable Oppression, Will Be Naturally Thinking Of The Means Of Security And Escape', Or Possibly Dreaming About Distant Civilizations.--publisher's Website. Part I. Thomas Gordon (c. 1691-1750). Thomas Gordon (c. 1691-1750): An Intellectual Biography Of A 'religious Atheist' ; Gordon's 'sensible Chinese': Anticlericalism, Republicanism, And Sinophilia In Walpolean England ; The Wisdom Of Governing By Law': Gordon's Tacitus And Sallust, And His History Of England. -- Part Ii. History Of England / Thomas Gordon. Foreword To The Critical Edition ; Text-critical Sigla ; Walter Calverley Trevelyan's Donation Of Gordon's History To The British Museum ; Of William The Norman, His Conquest And Conduct, And Of Conquerors In General ; The Reign Of William The 2d Sirnamed Rufus ; The Reign Of Henry The First ; The Reign Of King Stephen ; The Reign Of Henry The Second ; The Reign Of Henry The Third ; The Reign Of Edward The Second ; The Reign Of Edward The Third. Son Of Edward The Second ; The Reign Of James The First. By Giovanni Tarantino. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [577]-601) And Index. This is an exemplary study of Medieval scholarship, Classical reception and philosophical Sinophilia as propaganda devices in 18th century England. Thomas Gordon (c.1691-1750) was a prolific Scottish journalist and pamphleteer working in eighteenth-century London. His works circulated in a variety of forms and for many years in Europe and the British North American colonies. Gordon's conception of 'republicanism' was essentially that of a secular and tolerant society free from providential designs; his works reflected a lifelong commitment to defending the rule of law, the balance of powers, and the rotation of representative bodies. This study sets out to produce a fuller profile of Gordon, to investigate his specific and controversial contribution as a political theorist, and finally to present for the first time an annotated edition of his unfinished and unpublished (mainly medieval)' History of England'