ADDISON (Joseph), et al:

The Beauties of the Spectators, Tatlers, and Guardians. Corrected and Digested under Alphabetical Heads. A New Edition Corrected.

Dublin: Printed by James Williams, 1778. 2 volumes. 12mo, 166 x 93 mms., pp. [iv]334; [iv], 336, contemporary speckled calf, gilt spines, red morocco titling labels, green numbering labels, all edges gilt; some very slight wear to binding, but generally a very good to fine set, with the bookplate "Castleknock," and the autograph, written vertically on the blank end-paper before the title-page of each volume, "Wm. Filgate, May 29th, 1794". This work was first published in 1753, and there were a total of ten printings in the 18th century. A Dublin edition was first published in 1757, and this is the last edition to appear with a Dublin imprint in the 18th century. All the Dublin imprints of this title are rare: ESTC T163762 locates 5 copies: L, D, Di, Dp; ZWTU (lacking volume 2). No copies of this edition in North American libraries, and only 2 copies of any Dublin printing: 1757 (PPL) and 1767 (MiEM)

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N° du livre: 7478

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays anthology literature

ANDREWS (John):

Remarks on the French and English Ladies, In a Series of Letters; Interspersed with Various Anecdotes, and Additional Matter arising from the Subject.

London: Printed for T. Longman, and G. Robinson..., 1783. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, 211 x 121 mms., pp. [ii], 360, contemporary calf, red leather label; "BOND" in purple capitals on front free end-paper, lacks half-title, front joint amateurishly repaired. Andrews (?1736 - 1809) published a number of now forgotten works in his lifetime and enjoyed a mixed reputation, with the Gentleman's Magazine commenting on his death in 1809 that the "Nation is deprived of an able historian, a profound scholar and politician, and a man ever ready to take up his pen in his Country's cause"; while the journal Beau Monde described him as as "middling writer" (ODNB). The Monthly Review for 1783 was lukewarm: "In this performance Dr. Andrews entertains his readers with descriptive detains and observations, on a subject which will forever engage a considerable share of attention. The female character is so inspiring a theme, that it would be almost impossible for a writer of abilities inferior to those of our Author, not to offer many remarks which must both amuse and interest the Public. We cannot, however, say that, in our opinion, Dr. A. has treated his subject with all that acuteness, or depth of penetration, which the philosopher will look for."

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N° du livre: 8677

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays women prose

APPERLEY ([Thomas]):

Essays and Reflections, Religious and Moral. Second Edition, with Additions.

Glocester: Printed by D. Walker, for J. Washbourn.... Sold also by Messrs Longman, Hurst, Rees, & Orme; and Messrs. Rivington, London, 1806. 8vo, pp. 174, contemporary half calf, marbled boards, gilt spine, green morocco label; boards a little rubbed and front joint slightly rubbed. A very good copy. No dates or first name are given for the author in OCLC or Copac, but he is almost certainly Thomas Apperley (1730 - 1814). In the Introduction, he describes himself as the "Father of a pretty numerous family," and Thomas Apperley lived in Wrexham, where the first edition (1793) of this book was printed. He was the father of eight children, one of whom, Charles James Apperley (1778 - 1843) achieved fame as "Nimrod," the sports writer. The topics are, of course, religious and moral, and Apperley doesn't think much of philosophy: "Had it not been for philosophy, which perverted natural reason, mankind would never have disputed the immortality of the soul." For the first edition of 1793, ESTC T68681 locates copies in BL, Bodleian, Birmingham, and Glasgow. For this 1806 edition, Copac and OCLC locate copies in BL, Bodleian; Yale, Michigan.

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N° du livre: 6266

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays morality prose

BACON (Francis):

Essays, or Counsels, Civil and Moral. By Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, and Lord High Chancellor of England,

Glasgow: Printed by R. Urie, 1752. 8vo, 200 x 117 mms., pp. [ii] iii - viii, 9 - 214 [215 - 216 Contents], contemporary sheepskin, raised bands between gilt rules on spine, red leather label (slightly chipped), title-page and end-papers slightly soiled, but generally a very good copy with the contemporary decorative bookplate of John Hervey on the front paste-down end-paper and the 20th century bookplate, dated 1938, of Henrici Galbraith Miller just beneath. This was Urie's only printing of the works of Bacon. It is not especially rare, with ESTC T119860 locating 5 copies in these islands and 6 in north America

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N° du livre: 7580

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays printing history prose

[BERKELEY (George)]:

A Miscellany, Containing Several Tracts on Various Subjects. By the Bisoph of Cloyne.

London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper..., 1752. FIRST LONDON EDITION. 8vo, 202 x 121 mms., pp. vi [7 - 8] - 267 [268 Contents],with the appearance of A2 rather than A3 being in cancelled state, contemporary calf; margins of several leaves browned, four leaves creased, two leaves sprung, covers holding on for dear life, lacks label, top and base of spine chipped, ex-library, with the library label of Collegio Sancti Davidis apud Llanbedr in Comitatu Ceretico, with note that this duplicate was sold, on the front paste-down end-paper, with the contemporary inscription "Bro. Berkeley's Tracts" on the recto of the front free end-paper, Among the tracts reprinted are "Farther Thoughts on Tar Water," "An Essay towards preventing the Ruin of Great-Briain," "Maxims concerning Patriotism." Keyne 141. Rothschild 383. Goldsmiths 8683.

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N° du livre: 8414

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays medicine prose

BRODBELT (Rev. George Campbell):

Original Essays on Miscellaneous Subjects in Religion.

London: Printed for the Author; and sold by J. Mathews...; M. Priestly...; Calcott, Oxford; Marlin, Aylesbury; Stratton, Risborough; and Eades, High Wycombe, 1796. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, pp. xvi, 119 [120], adverts, including half-title and list of subscribers, disbound. Brodbelt (fl. 1796 - 1800) published some sermons and seems to have been active in the Missionary Society. The rhetoric of these sermons is certainly cast in the missionary mould. He notes in the Preface that he has been in the ministry thirteen years, and pointedly concludes by saying "The book was not intended to be embellished with quotations from the works of other men, therefore few such occur. The Essays are, in general, what the title-page declares them to be, Original." Approximately 400 people subscribed for the work. ESTC on-line locates three copies: L, Lmh; KU-S.

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N° du livre: 4251

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays sermons prose

[CANNING (George), et al]:

The Microcosm, A Periodical Work, By Gregory Griffin, Of the College of Eton. The Second Edition. Inscribed to the Rev. Dr. Davies.

Windsor: Published for C. Knight...and sold by Mess. Robinson...and Mr. Debrett..., 1788. 8vo, 203 x 118 mms., pp. xv [xvi Names of the Authors], [3] - 451 [452 errata], additional engraved title-page preceding printed title-page, recently rebound in quarter calf, black morocco label, gilt spine, marbled boards; slight water-staining to title-page, but a good copy. The first 40 numbers of The Microcosm were published at Eton, 6 November 1786 - 30 July 1787. Among the subjects discussed one finds language, genius, poetics, novels, affectation, translation, imitation, government, genius, etc.

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N° du livre: 7146

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays prose

COLERIDGE (Hartley):

Essays and Marginalia. Edited by his Brother [Derwent Coleridge].

London: Edward Moxon..., 1851. FIRST EDITION. 2 volumes. 8vo, pp. xii, 376; iv, 359 [360 printer's imprint], with half-title in volume 1, engraved portrait (foxed) in volume 1, original embossed cloth; tissue paper between portrait and title-page in volume 1 defective, both volumes shaken in casings, tops and bases of spines snagged.

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N° du livre: 5107

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays manuscript literature prose

[CUMBERLAND (Richard)]:

The Observer: Being a Collection of Moral, Literary and Familiar Essays.

London: Printed for C. Dilly..., 1786, 1788, 1791. FIRST COLLECTED EDITION. 5 volumes 1 - 4 first editions; second edition of volume 5. 8vo, 189 x 114 mms., pp. [viii], 295 [296 blank]; [vi], 282; [viii], 330; [viii], 314; [viii], 309 [310 adverts[, contemporary polished calf, spine richly gilt, red and green morocco labels; joints volume 1 very slightly cracked, some wear to extremities, but an attractive and a very good set, with the contemporary autograph of Thomas Harvey on the top margin of the title-page in each volume The playwright and novelist Richard Cumberland (1732–1811) seems almost to have drifted into a career as an author in his thirties, and he published works in all the popular literary genres of the 18th century. "The Observer...appeared in five volumes between 1786 and 1790 and contains 152 essays. The essays range from the usual fare of literary criticism (on Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Milton, Rowe, and others), to general subjects ('Love of praise'), little tales (often running to three or more numbers), historical essays, and a variety of other sub-genres. Of special interest is no. 27, 'Remarks upon novels; particularly of Richardson's Clarissa', in which he also invokes Fielding. Unlike other periodical papers, there are thirty-eight consecutive essays (nos. 114–52) on Greek history and literature, with a number of his translations of Greek poetry" (ODNB).

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N° du livre: 7809

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays literary criticism PROSE

[DALRYMPLE (Sir David), Lord Hailes)], editor:

The Opinions of Sarah Duchess-Dowager of Marlborough, Published from original Mss.

No place No publisher 1788. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 12mo, 158 x 91 mms., pp. [v] vi - xx], 120, including half-title, contemporary calf, red leather; some repairs to front joint, but with rubbing present. A good copy. "Sarah Churchill was a woman of extraordinary energy and vibrancy and a brilliant and forthright intellect. Her long and devoted marriage to John Churchill, and her close association with Queen Anne, set her amid many of the most tumultuous events in British history at a time when the doting queen would have refused her dearest friend almost nothing. For all the turbulence and exasperation that her conduct frequently caused him, Sarah was the first duke of Marlborough's inspiration and he looked to her for approval. It is arguable that without the goad of her spirited influence he would not have risen so far or so fast. Sarah prided herself on her sense of logic, but her extraordinarily stubborn nature was not receptive to reasoned argument by others, with the occasional exception of her husband. This robust quality was of immense value when she was right, but quite disastrous when wrong, and her brusque temper contributed enormously to the eventual breach with Anne and her failure to exert enduring political influence in the reigns of George I and George II. She was too self-righteous to maintain a position at court through flattery and dissimulation, but her ambition and ability kept her near the centre of British political life for seventy years." James Falkner, OxfordDNB. Sources

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N° du livre: 10438

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays women

[DODSLEY (Robert)], ed.:

Fugitive Pieces, on Various Subjects. By several Authors. I. Crito: or a Dialogue on Beauty. II. An Account of the Emperor of China's Gardens, near Pekin. III. Deformity. By William Hay, Esq. IV. Lucina sine Concubitu. Address to the Royal Society. V. A Modest Defence of Gaming. Vi. The Pretty Gentleman. VII. The Polite Philosopher. VIII. Plan of an Essay on Delicacy. [Volume I] I. A Vindication of Natural Society.... II. History and Antiquities of the Ancient Villa of Wheatfield.... III. Fragments of ancient Poetry, collected in the Highlands of Scotland. IV. An Account of Russia, in the Year 1710.... V. A Journey into England. By Paul Hentzner, in the Year 1598. VI. A Project for raising an Hospital for decayed Authors. VII. A Parallel, in the Manner of Plutarch...by the Rev. Mr. Spence. [Volume II]

London: Printed for J. Dodsley..., 1765 2 volumes. 8vo, 276 x 109 mms., pp. [iv], 352; [ii], [vi] iii - ix [x blank], 11 - 357 [358 blank, 359 - 360 adverts], including half-title in each volume, contemporary calf, later reback with spines ornately gilt in compartments, red and olive green morocco labels; some scratches to covers and wear to extremities, but a very good set. The Monthly Review for 1762 said of the first edition of 1761, "We sincerely congratulate the public on this little, but elegant, collection, which may preserve some valuable pieces from being utterly lost." Crito: or a Dialogue on Beauty is one of the more useful essays in the volume. Joseph Spence published it in 1752 under the pseudonym Sir Harry Beaumont, published also by Dodsley. Maslen and Lancaster. Bowyer ledgers, 4511. Bowyer printed 1000 copies.

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N° du livre: 9815

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays anthology prose

[DOWNMAN (Hugh)]:

Essays, by a Society of Gentlemen, at Exeter. Vol. I. Part I. Vol. I. Part II.

Exeter, Printed by Tewman and Son, no date, [1796] FIRST EDITION, [?second issue]. 2 volumes. 8vo, 247 x 148 mms., pp. [vi] - viii, 270; [2], 271 - 573 [574 blank], including half-title, engraved plates at pages 110 (foxed), 115, 118 (foxed), 124 (foxed), and 312 (slightly foxed), original boards, uncut, rather crudely rebacked with quarter vellum spine; front hinges cracked, boards worn, corners worn, but a good set. The physician and poet Hugh Downman (1740 - 1809) began his life as a parson, after a stint at Balliol College, but he turned to a career as physician, studying in Edinburgh for three years and living in an apartment with the poet Thomas Blacklock. He moved to London, began practicing medicine, and obtain an M D. from Aberdeen, probably by paying for it, which was not that unusual for an Aberdeen M. D. in the 18th century. His literary career began in 176, with one of the few poems published in Spenserian stanzas in the 18th century, The Land of the Muses. His best-known poem was in Miltonic blank verse, Infancy, or, The Management of Children (17774 - 1776). In the early 1980s, he founded the above literary group, and, as ODNB notes, "published a volume of essays in 1796; Downman wrote the introduction and three additional pieces. The society originally had nine members, subsequently increased to twelve, all of some distinction; they included Richard Polwhele and Isaac d'Israeli, father of Benjamin Disraeli, who became a friend and patient of Downman in 1795. While at Exeter d'Israeli wrote some verses in Downman's praise which were published in an anonymous pamphlet in 1807. The society survived for nearly twelve years but enthusiasm waned with the health of its founder and meetings were discontinued." Richard Polwhele (1760 - 1838) contributed a valuable essay on falconry, which appears in the first part of volume one, "Historical Outlines of Falconry," but he involved himself in a bitter quarrel with his fellow contributors over the publication of this essay, which might account for the fact that there are two different states of the title-page (see below). Downman wrote to Polwhele, "We go on but slowly with our volume. Hayter's paper on the Ptolemaic Chronology is but just begun. We inserted your Essay on Falconry, as being more original than that on the Progress of Literature, though not quite in order. The latter one, indeed, should be much curtailed; the third part seems to be the only one proper to be retained, with some short introduction, in which may be preserved your idea (I believe it is your own, and a just one,) of the origin of Pastoral Poetry; but on this I shall consult the other members of the Committee in time, and acquaint you more particularly, or send it to you if necessary." Some of the argy-bargy can be found in an article in The Anti-Jacobin Review and Magazine Or Monthly Political and Literary Censor, "A Letter to a College Friend, relative to some late Transactions of a Literary Society, at Exeter" (1798), which is, in fact, by Richard Polwhele. There were many contemporary positive reviews of the essays, e. g., in The Analytical Review, Or History of Literature, Domestic and Foreign, "The essays before us, proceeding from various pens of course possess considerable diversity of merit: they will, however, on the whole, reflect great merit upon the society; for several of the pieces afford striking proofs of ingenuity, diligence, and erudition, in their respective authors." One might compare Robert Southey's letter of 1 September 1799, "I am about to house myself at Exeter for a few weeks, till our habitation in Hampshire be vacant. there is a literary society at Exeter - Disraeli – Hole – & Dr Downmans [sic] who writes sonnets in blank verse. but they are a sort of monsters in literature, all furiously ministerial, even to intolerance of those who think otherwise – so the door is shut upon me, & I have no inclination to knock...." ESTC T188130 locates only the copy at Exeter Central library of the book with the above imprint. Another issue, with an errata leaf, states, "Printed by and for Trewman and Son. London: sold by Cadell and Davies, Strand; Robinsons, Paternoster-Row; and Robson, New Bond-Street," with an errata leaf, as well as a preliminary Advertisement dated 1796. The title-page in the present copy is clearly a cancel, which suggests that it is a second issue with the errata corrected. A similar copy was sold at Dominic Winter on 30 January 2007, with the bookplate of Guy Alymer and his ownership inscription; there is no bookplate or inscription in this copy. For the historical importance of the work, see Dafydd Moore, "Patriotism, Politeness, and National Identity in the South West of England in the Late Eighteenth Century," in ELH (2008), where the authorship of some of the essays is identified.

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N° du livre: 9473

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays falconry prose

DRAKE (Nathan):

Mornings in Spring; or Retrospections, Biographical, Critical, and Historical.

London: John Murray..., 1828. FIRST EDITION. 2 volumes. in 1. 8vo, pp. [vi], 342; [iv], 338, contemporary half roan, gilt spine, marbled boards (slightly rubbed). Drake's subjects here are the Cliffords of Craven (a Yorkshire family - Drake himself came from a distinguished Yorkshire family), Philip Sidney, Scottish authors, Ossian, and other literary topics.

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N° du livre: 1326

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays Literataure

GURNEY (Rev.William):

The Nosegay, Rector of St Clement Danes Formerly Chaplain to his Royal Highness the late Duke of Kent.

London, Printed for the Author & Sold by Seeley & Son., 1830. FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. Tall 8vo, 212 x 123 mms., pp. xi [xii blank], 122 [123 Advertisement, 124 colophon], including list of subscribers, engraved title-page (water-stained at edges, also slightly foxed), one full-page engraved plate, original boards, uncut, paper label on spine, which is slightly defective with some paper missing, top and base of spine chipped, but a good copy with a pencil inscription on the recto of the front free end-ppaer: "Ellen [?De gonville/ the gift of her [blank]"; and on the verso of the rear free end-paper, "Miss Hasselll/ the gift of/ Doctor [?Crawford]/ ... [as yet undeciphered." From the "Advertisement" after the list of subscribers: "The Work now produced, is the composition of the Author, with the exception of three extracts, one called Mary's Lament, another Lines, by the late Dr. Stennet, and a few lines from Handel." It has to be said that the short devotional essays that make up the volume are unlikely to be deemed excitingly original. Copac locates six printed copies in UK libraries; OCLC adds Wisconsin and Princeton, while WorldCat gives a large number that turn out to be electronic copies.

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N° du livre: 9390

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays religion prose

HAZLITT (William):

Table Talk. Essays on Men and Manners. A New Edition edited by William Carew Hazlitt. First [and Second] Series.

London: Bell & Daldy..., 1869. 8vo, pp. [vi], 467 [468 blank, 469 - 470 advert], including half-title, with a separate half-title and title-page for the Second Series, contemporary half olive morocco, gilt spine, marbled boards (slightly rubbed); spine faded and rubbed. Keynes 60.

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N° du livre: 2956

Catalogue: Essays

Mots-clés: essays literature