1753 A Letter to Sir William Windham A Letter to Sir William Windham. II. Some Reflections on the Present State of the Nation. III. A Letter to Mr. Pope

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Leather Binding

The first edition of this work. Illustrated with a frontispiece. Bound without the half-title. Otherwise, complete. ESTC citation number N2688. A collection of three works, two letters and one pamphlet, by Henry St John. This work was foundational in the literature of republican ideals of government. The works were also particularly popular with the founders of the United States, including Thomas Jefferson. St John, the 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, was an English politician, political philosopher, and government official. He was the leader of the Tories, and supported the Church of England, and the 1715 Jacobite rebellion. St John took part in Alexander Pope's literary squabbles, and wrote the philosophy for Pope's 'Essay on Man', the letter in this volume essentially being his guide to the philosophical principle in Pope's work. 'The Present State of the Nation' is an unfinished pamphlet, written just before his death in 1751. Prior owner's ink inscription to the head of the title page, 'J. Laird'. Prior owner's ink inscription to the front pastedown. Prior owner's ink inscription to the reverse of the frontispiece.