BERRY (Mary):

Social Life in England and France, from the French Revolution in 1789, to that of July 1830.

London: Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, 1831 FIRST EDITION. Tall 8vo, 225 x 143 mms., pp. vii [viii blank], 214, original boards, uncut, paper label on spine, which is worn with joints slightly tender The great friend of Horace Walpole, Mary Berry (1763 - 1852) and her sister, Agnes (1764–1852), were well-educated and well-travelled: Walpole described them as "the best informed and the most perfect creatures I ever saw at their age." The present book is a sequel to an earlier one, A Comparative View of the Social Life of England and France from the Restoration of Charles the Second to the French Revolution, published in 1828. The Oxford DNB conludes its entry with this assessment: "Scholars have now drawn attention to her letters and journals, for the light they throw on women's history, but her own published books remain neglected. An introspective and often melancholy temperament shows through in all her writings, but it is her correspondence with figures such as Anne Damer and the scattered confessional passages of her journals which afford the greatest insight into her sensitive and somewhat wounded spirit. The picture she gives of English society from mid-Georgian to mid-Victorian, as well as French society in the same period, is richly detailed, and gains from its nuanced treatment of individuals such as Napoleon, Mme de Staël, and Princess Caroline. She liked the princess, but regretted that 'she has not a grain of common sense' (Extracts, 2.389). Mary was also an amateur artist of moderate attainment; a few of her sketches survive."

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Book number: 10421

Catalogue: Sociology

Keywords: sociology women prose women

BRADY (Robert):

An Historical Treatise of Cities and Burgh or Boroughs. Shewing Their Original, and whence, and from whom, they received their Liberties, Privileges, and Immunities; what they were, and what made and constituted a Free Burgh and Free Burgesses. As also shewing When they first sent their Representatives to Parliament. With A concurrent Discourse of most Matters and Things incident or relating thereto. A New Edition, Corrected.

London: Printed for, and sold by Joseph White..., 1777. 8vo, pp. [ii], iv, 170 [misprinted 107], 55 [56 blank, 57 - 64 Index], 19th century half plum calf, marbled boards, gilt spine, morocco label; title-page slightly stained, but a good copy. Brady (?1627 - 1700) published this in 1690, but did not live to see the second edition in 1704. There was another edition in 1711 and still another "second edition" in 1722. This was the last edition to be published in the eighteenth century. Adam Smith had a copy of this work (at present unlocated) in his library, and he cited the work in The Wealth of Nations (III, iii, 2).

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Book number: 4384

Catalogue: Sociology

Keywords: sociology history prose

MILLAR (John):

Observations concerning the Distinction of Ranks in Society. Under the following heads: I. Of the Rank and Condition of Women in different Ages. II. Of the Jurisdiction and Authority of a Father over his Children. III. Of the Author of a Chief over the members of a Tribe or Village. IV. Of the Power of a Sovereign over an extensive Society. Of the Authority of a Master over his Servants. The Second Edition, greatly enlarged.

London: Printed for J. Murray..., 1773. 8vo, 211 x 127 mms., pp. [iv], xxii, 312, including half-title, contemporary calf; binding dried, piece of leather missing from lower front corner, joints very slightly cracked. John Millar (1735 - 1801), Professor of Civil Law at the University of Glasgow, is a good example of an author whose reputation flourished during his lifetime, and who thereafter virtually disappeared from the map of intellectual history. Observations concerning the Distinction of Ranks in Society was first published in an attractive quarto by John Murray in London in 1771; a Dublin edition was published in the same year by Thomas Ewing with Murray's consent and collaboration. A second edition, "greatly enlarged," followed in 1773, and for the third edition, "corrected and enlarged" of 1779, Millar revised the title to The Origin of the Distinction of Ranks: Or, An Enquiry into the Circumstances which Give Rise of Influence and Authority in the Different Members of Society. Commenting on the last section, the reviewer for The Monthly Review said, "The performance, indeed, deserves to be read in the Author's own words. The manner in which it is written is agreeable; and the style is in general correct, without stiffness or affectation. From the short analysis of it which we have given, the learned Reader will perceive that this is one of those works which only could be produced in an age superior to prejudices, and guided by the spirit of a free and liberal philosophy." Nothing like self-congratulation to warm the cockles of a reviewer's heart. W. Zachs, The First John Murray (1998) 70.

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Book number: 8508

Catalogue: Sociology

Keywords: sociology philosophy Scottish Enlightenment prose

SMILES (Samuel):

Duty With Illustrations of Courage, Patience, & Endurance

London: John Murray..., 1880. FIRST EDITION. 8vo, pp. xv [xvi blank], 430, including half-title, contemporary tree calf, spine ornately gilt in compartments, morocco label. A very good to fine and attractive copy. Presentation inscription on leaf before half-title: "To Fred/ from an old friend/ W. H. G. 7 [sic]/ Oct. 1. 81."

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 5973

Catalogue: Sociology

Keywords: sociology morality prose