Young, William

The Spirit Of Athens

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J. Robson London 1777 First Edition Being A Political and Philosophical Investigation of the History of that Republic. 8vo. [218 x 130 x 27 mm]. xv, [i], 296 pp. Bound in contemporary red goatskin, the covers with a gilt single fillet border. Smooth spine divided into six panels by a gilt fillet, lettered in the second panel, the edges of the boards and turn-ins hatched in gilt, marbled endleaves, gilt edges. (Refurbished where worn). Some light soiling and a few spots, but a good copy in a rather tired but still presentable binding. This is indeed a presentation copy, inscribed in ink on the front endleaf "From the Author April [?] 1777". It has the bookplate of Marston House with a cypher and Earl's coronet. This must be Edmund Boyle (1742-1798), 7th Earl of Cork and Orrery, who was born and lived at Marston House near Frome in Somerset. There are a number of neat ink notes, mostly translations of classical texts, and some corrections. Sir William Young (1749-1815) was the son of the governor of Dominica, from who he inherited four plantations, 896 slaves and debts amounting to £110,000. In 1807 he was appointed governor of Tobago, a post he held until his death. The Spirit of Athens was his first published work, and gained him some fame. He went on to write on a variety of subjects, including The Rights of Englishmen, or, The British Constitution of Government compared with a Democratic Republic (1793), Considerations on Poorhouses and Workhouses (1796), Instructions for the Armed Yeomanry (1797) and The West Indian Commonplace Book (1807).

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• ordernr.: ebc2526

• bookseller: George Bayntun (GREAT BRITAIN)