148 Life of King James II. 3s.... ..1702 James sent one of his priests to convert Lord Middleton, "You believe in the trinity," said the father: "Who told you so," replied his lordship; the poor monk could go no farther. The King himself asked Col. Kirke to change, who answered that he was pre-engaged, and had promised the Emperor of Morocco, on that event, to turn Maho metan. 149 History of the early part of the Reign of James II. &c. by the Rt. Hon. Charles James Fox, 4to. boards, 15s..1808 * They printed a much greater number of this work than there were readers of English history, and the surplus was offered to the Booksellers; among whom is a custom that completely counteracts the effects of open competition, and, when wholesale lots are submitted, determines the price, not by the actual commercial value, but by the policy of the owner. I wish to steer clear of allusion to the conduct of any sellers, and simply to account for the surprising and unexpected reduction of price in the present and many other of our best works, by which the public are too apt to regulate their opinion of an author, and not unfrequently either to temporarily or eternally damn the most valuable productions. Pennant's Tour to Dover was abandoned in a lump to it's fate, and fell to what you would please to give; of course, as usual, that was nothing at all. But no author is, and very deservedly, in greater request. Yet the Dover, written in the prime of life, and quite equal to any of his other works, is, to this moment, at the bottom of the market. In the present case, the work was divided among the trade at a few shillings per copy. The hand to mouth booksellers, the most cheapest booksellers, (for many of our trade also can creep into pint bottles) and the remainder of the booksellers, whom interest compels to be honest, whether they like it or not.-all, for all must have a level price: overcharge and keep, books or beef, as Adam Smith says, 'tis all the same; all were obliged to price this excellent work at a few shillings, and then, of course, nobody would buy. If the book had been returned by the original purchasers into the market it might have gone to the devil for me; but that I most solemnly aver has not been the case. There is certainly no work in our language that in point of excellence approaches it as a profound and masterly exposition of the British Constitution, and in which even the minutest facts are most sacredly and accuCrately detailed, as Serjeant Heywood has abundantly proved. 150 Compleat Collection of Papers relating to the great Revolution, in 12 parts, 4to. 11. 1s. very scarce...1689 151 Echard's History of the Revolution, in 1688, 4s. 6d. 1725 152 Hamilton's relation of the Actions of the Inniskilling-Men, 1688, 4to. 5s..... ..1690 153 Account of the most material passages in Ireland since 1688, with a particular relation of the Forces of Londondery, map, 4to. 3s. 6d.... .1689 154 Life of William, Prince of Orange, 2s. 6d.......1689 155 History of the Revolutions in England, from 1603 to 1690, by Father Orleans, 3s. ..1722 156 Great Britain's just Complaint for her present Sufferings, 4to. 3s. 6d.. .1692 A curious but lying Jacobite tract. 157 Lord Warrington's Works, 5s... .1694 Much interesting matter respecting the two late reigns. 158 D'Auvergne's History of the Campaign in Flanders, 1695, Ato. 2s.. .1696 159 Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland, by Sir John Dalrymple, Bart. 2 vol. 4to. 17. 11s. 6d. .......1771 160 Birch's Life of Archbishop Tillotson, 7s........1752 161 Somerville's Political Transactions, and State of Parties, from the Restoration to the Death of King William, 4to. neat, ll. ls...... 162 Fanshaw's Letters, 2s.... ..1792 1702 163 History of Major Bernardi, kept Thirty-three Years a State Prisoner in Newgate 1729 Confined for plotting against William, and has some curious facts. 164 Secret History of Arlus and Adolphus, (Harley and Godolphin) 5s. ' • • • • • ... 1710 Harley's strength lay in managing parties, says Burnet, and in engaging people by rewards and promises to dependancy. He knew little of the Treasurer's office, nor of foreign affairs, but trusted solely to his influence with the Queen; was a Tory, but probably not a Jacobite. This, is a libel on Godolphin and the Whigs. 165 Secret History of Arlus, Fortunatus, and Adolphus, (Harley, Marlborough, and Godolphin) 5s......1710 Godolphin had the clearest head, the calmest temper, and the most uncorrupt heart and hands. This Whig answer to the foregoing is equally abusive but more spirited. 166 Conduct of the Allies, by Swift, 1s...... .....1711 A tissue of lies, written to prepare the public for the Treaty of Utrecht, to which Harley, unequal to support the war, was compelled. 167 Secret History of the October Club, both parts, 7s. 6d. 1711 Written, says Defoe, by Sir G. H. A severe and caustic account of a club composed of the rankest Jacobites. They are taunted bitterly with the new Tory Ministry not having provided for the divine cause: "What is it to you, Tho' the ministry's new, Your cause will be never more near, sirs, For unless they'll restore Your young son of a whore, You'll always be just where you were, sirs.” 168 Some Advice to the Members of the October Club, 1s. 6d. ...1712 By Swift. The foregoing work made such an impression on the Club, it was thought necessary to appease it. The fact is, it expected to have immediately filled every post of government; but Harley and Bolingbroke knew that would blow the scheme at once. Swift therefore hints that it was not forgotten, that things were in train, but the safe time was not yet come. The Club was however so little convinced, that this work actually dissolved it, 169 History of Secret Negociations in favour of the Pretender, by Colonel Hooke, in 1707, 3s. 6d. .... ...1760 170 Law is a Bottomless Pit, with a MS. Key, 3s....1712 171 Secret History of the Ministry, from their Accession to the Death of the Queen, 3s. 6d. . ..1715 172 A Dissuasive from Jacobitism, 3s. 6d...........1713 By Shute, Viscount Barrington, an excellent and timely work, of great historical research and wonderfully severe against Popish Politics. 173 The Conduct of the Duke of Ormond in the Campaign of 1712, 4to. 1s. 6d. 174 Treaty of Utrecht, 4to. 5s.. .... 1715 ..1713 This wretched Treaty left, says Lord Egmont, so many difficulties unadjusted as subsequently embarrassed Europe. It was negatived in Parliament, 1713: many of Walpole's difficulties sprung from it. 175 Secret History of the White Staff, by Defoe, 5s...1714 A very curious account of Oxford's Ministry. It shews that Sacheverell's impeachment was a snare of Harley's to divide Godolphin from the Church. This is pretty well from a pensioned advocate of my Lord Oxford. 176 History of the Mitre and Purse, 2s. 6d.........1714 A reply to the former, chiefly defending Harley's coadjutors from Defoe's aspersions. 177 Conduct of Robert Walpole, Esq. 5s..........1717 By Arthur Mainwaring, Esq. It is a very laboured defence of Walpole, of which Mr. Coxe has availed himself. 178 Account of the Conduct of the Duchess of Marlborough, 1742. The other side of the question, or an attempt to rescue Queen Mary and Queen Anne out of the hand of the Duchess, 2 vol. 10s. 6d. 179 Minutes of Monsieur Mesnager's Negociation during the last Four Years of Queen Anne, by Defoe, 3s. 6d. .1736 180 Memoirs of the Ministry of Robert, Earl of Oxford, 5s. 1717 Rather curious. A laboured and temperate, but not impartial, defence of Lord Oxford. 181 Journal of the Earl of Marr's Proceedings, from his Arrival in Scotland to his Embarkation for France, 2s. 6d. 182 Burnet's History of his own Times, 2 vol. folio, half bound, 21. 2s.... ..1724 When the Doctor was writing his Memoirs he was introduced to Charles II. by Duke Lauderdale, who said, "Sire, I bring you a man who never forgets any thing.' "Then, my Lord," said the King, "you and I must take care what we say before him." 183 Boyer's History of Queen Anne, portraits, medals, maps, &c. folio, 18s... ..1735 184 Macpherson's Original Papers from the Restoration to the Accession of George I. 2 vols. 4to. sewed, 11. 7s.. 1776 185 Swift's Four last Years of Queen Anne, 2s. 6d....1720 "At least you must allow there are strong facts in the four last years?" "Yes! surely," said Dr. Johnson, "and so there are in the Ordinary of Newgate's Account.” 186 Hamilton's Transactions from the Union to the Death of Queen Anne, 3s. 6d..... ..1790 187 Ralph's History of Sir Robert Walpole's Administration, 7s..... ..1743 Doddington shews that Ralph was a perfect Swiss and fought only for pay. It happened, however, to be on the side of truth, in his great work: perhaps poverty alone prevented him from being an honorable man and a staunch Whig. 188 Life and Posthumous Works of Arthur Mainwaring, Esq. 7s..... ...1715 189 Impartial Enquiry into the Conduct of Charles, Lord Viscount Townshend, 6s.... ...1717 |