An Act for Naturalizing Such Foreign Protestants and Others Therein Mentioned, As Are Settled or Shall Settle in Any of His Majesty's Colonies in America [Plantation Act 1740/ Naturalization Act 1740]

London: Printed by John Baskett, 1740. Loose leaf. g+ to vg-. Thin quarto. [1] 167-171pp. (6 printed text pages total). Printed wrappers, with text and woodblock printed royal coat of arms on the front cover. Lavish historiated woodblock initial at the start of the text (p.167). Presents the full printed text of the so-called Plantation Act of 1740. This act of the British parliament is important in the history of the emancipation of some religious minorities ("Protestants and Others") in the British empire, the history of promoting immigration to British (truncated) North America, and in British Jewish history. The act is cataloged by its historical citation number [13 Geo. 2. c. 7].

This law provides a preliminary framework by which foreign Protestants (and others) can gain naturalization, by settling and residing in the British colonies in North America for at least seven years. The "others" mentioned in the text of the law refer to Quakers, and most notably, Jews. For these previously mentioned groups, some provisions of the law would be waived in accordance with their respective religious traditions. In the case of Jews, the exception came in the form of being relieved of the obligation to repeat the words 'Upon the true faith of a Christian', at the end of the Oath of Abjuration, in accordance with the previous Act of Settlement (1701). The provisions of the law were intended both to streamline and systematize broad Imperial naturalization procedures, which until then had been an inconsistent patchwork of various colonial laws, only applying to their local jurisdictions. Additionally the act was meant to encourage the settlement of the colonies and promote immigration. It empowered colonial courts to administer the oath of allegiance to foreign residents who met the required criteria.

The law was passed during the sixth session of the 8th Parliament of Great Britain and went through Royal assent (approval) on March 19th, 1740. Its implementation began on June 1st, 1740. Although the law is historically dated to 1740, the printed text is dated by the Clerk of the Parliaments to 1739, the year of the beginning of the then current session of Parliament (as an ex post facto law), which was the case for all legislation prior to the implementation of the Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act of 1793.

During the three decades of its implementation, the Naturalization Act served to promote the British North American colonies as a religious refuge and a land of opportunity within the Empire. In the first fourteen years since the law came into effect, "nearly two hundred West Indian Jews (the majority of whom lived in Jamaica) availed themselves of the opportunity offered by this measure" (Roth). The addressing of the status of Jews in the Empire was historically significant, and preceded the measures ensuring their full legal emancipation in Britain in the 19th century. This was one the earliest successful efforts towards that goal.

Front cover with a few minor tears along the left-hand side, professionally repaired and nearly unnoticeable. Foxing to pages, mostly in the margins. In good+ to very good- condition overall. Protected in modern mylar. Scarce. Front cover text: "Anno Regni Georgii II. Regis Magnae Britannie, Francie & Hibernie. Decimo Tertio. At the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster, the Fourteenth Day of January, Anno Dom. 1734. in the Eighth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith... And from thence continued by several Prorogations to the Fifteenth day of November, 1739. Being the Sixth session of this present parliament."

Bibliographic resources: Roth, Cecil. A History of Jews in England. Third edition. 1964. p.213 - 214; Marcus, The Colonial American Jew, Vol. I. (Inventory #: 53640)