[MORRES, Hervey Redmond] The Letters of Themistocles, London: for Hookham and Carpenter, 1795, 12°, FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM, ISAAC REED'S COPY WITH HIS OWNERSHIP INSCRIPTION AND THE AUTHOR'S TIPPED-IN SUICIDE NOTE, xxiv + 224 + 69 + [1]p. (lacking half title and possibly a leaf, called for by ESTC, between introductory pages and the main text, although this is not part of a quire and the first word of text follows on correctly from the preceding catch word), later 19th-century brown half morocco, lettered in gilt and stamped with Lord Houghton's crest, bookplate of Robert, Marquis of Crewe. [UNCOMMON. ESTC LOCATES 3 COPIES IN THE BRITISH ISLES]
Details
[MORRES, Hervey Redmond] The Letters of Themistocles, London: for Hookham and Carpenter, 1795, 12°, FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM, ISAAC REED'S COPY WITH HIS OWNERSHIP INSCRIPTION AND THE AUTHOR'S TIPPED-IN SUICIDE NOTE, xxiv + 224 + 69 + [1]p. (lacking half title and possibly a leaf, called for by ESTC, between introductory pages and the main text, although this is not part of a quire and the first word of text follows on correctly from the preceding catch word), later 19th-century brown half morocco, lettered in gilt and stamped with Lord Houghton's crest, bookplate of Robert, Marquis of Crewe. [UNCOMMON. ESTC LOCATES 3 COPIES IN THE BRITISH ISLES]
Provenance
"ISAAC REED 1798," INSCRIPTION TO FRONT BLANK, WITH ADDED NOTE IN REED'S HAND READING: "LORD MOUNTMORRES THE AUTHOR OF THIS VOLUME SHOT HIMSELF THE 18TH AUGUST 1797 HAVING FIRST LEFT THE PAPER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TABLE." TIPPED-IN OPPOSITE REED'S INSCRIPTION IS THE SUICIDE NOTE REFERRED TO, SIGNED BY MOUNTMORRES, DECLARING: "A WICKED AND MOST UNJUST CONSPIRACY HAS BEEN FORMED AGAINST MY HONOUR, MY FORTUNE & MY LIFE. THE ALMIGHTY WILL FORIVE AN ACT IMPELLED BY OPPRESSION." TO THIS REED HAS ADDED AND SIGNED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: "29 SEPTR. 1797 GIVEN ME BY MR GEO: NICOL AS THE ORIGINAL IN LORD MOUNTMORRIS'S HAND WRITING. HE RECEIVED IT FROM ATKINSON THE APOTHECARY."
HERVEY EDMOND MORRES, SECOND VISCOUNT MOUNTMORRES (1746?-1797) WROTE ON POLITICAL QUESTIONS AND SUPPORTED PITT STRONGLY IN IRELAND. IT WAS AFTER RECEIVING NEWS OF THE DISTURBED STATE OF IRELAND THAT HIS MIND, "NEVER VERY STRONG," GAVE WAY, AND HE SHOT HIMSELF WHILE AT HIS LODGINGS IN 6 YORK STREET, ST. JAMES'S SQUARE, ON 18 AUGUST 1797.
Lot Essay
THE LETTERS WERE FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE PUBLIC ADVERTISER.