On the Origin, Nature, Progress and Influence by B.D. Warden

On the Origin, Nature, Progress and Influence of Consular Establishments by David Bailie Warden, published in 1813, is the first English-language treatise on consular law and one of the earliest works on the subject. It serves as both a descriptive and prescriptive text, detailing the ideal qualities of a consul, their role in diplomatic relations, legal status, and the consular systems of major powers like the United States, France, and England. The book explores the commercial, political, and economic advantages of consular establishments, the origins and extent of consular jurisdiction, and reviews consular treaties in force at the time. Written by Warden, an Irish-born American diplomat and scholar, it was highly regarded, translated into French, and widely circulated in diplomatic circles.