Considerations on the present peace, as far as it is relative to the colonies, and the African trade

"Considerations on the Present Peace, as far as it is relative to the colonies, and the African trade" by Robert Vaughan is a mid-18th century analysis probing the effects of British colonial actions on commerce, most notably the African slave trade and how it affected British colonies. Presented as more than just a historical record, this book makes a case for trade reform, with the aim of protecting the interests of planters and merchants after a war. The text starts by looking at the newly agreed peace terms and their flaws, as explained by editors claiming public service and their worry about the expensive African slave trade, which they believe has hurt colonial farming. Appealing for quick legislative changes, they want British trade shielded from rivals, specifically the French, by controlling African trade routes and forts, ensuring a stable supply of enslaved people for the colonies and keeping their economies alive.