Can anyone point me to an early work of proto-Alternate History?

A few months back, I saw a forum post somewhere on AH.com about an Alternate History book written by an Englishman in the 18th century, before the American Revolution, about the rise of the British Empire. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it since.

I recall that it summarized the 18th and 19th centuries and kicked off the main story in 1900 or so, but its conception of 1900 wasn't all that different from the author's own time (giant naval battles between sailing ships, Britain and France at each other's throats, etc.)

Does anyone know what the title of this story might be?
 
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