Plan offered by the Earl of Chatham, to the House of lords, entitled, A provisional act, for settling the troubles in America, and for asserting the supreme legislative authority and superintending power of Great Britain over the colonies. Which was rejected, and not suffered to lie upon the table.

After nearly 60 years of collecting, Sid Lapidus ’59 has presented to the Library more than 2700 volumes representing the fruits of his enthusiasm. Broadly conceived, the collection charts the definition and re-definiton of rights and liberties endemic to Western political traditions. The main focus is texts and documents relating to the American Revolution, its run-up dating back to the Commonwealth men, and coming down to documents of the early Federal government.