D.D. Principal Librarian of the University of Cambridge. Containing all his Writings, except the Life of Cicero. Many of
which were never before Published. In
Four Volumes. With a complete Index to the whole. [Vol. I-IV.]
London: Printed for
Richard Manby and
H. S. Cox,
1752.
BR75 .M5
First Edition. 4 vol. 4to. Vol. I, 252 leaves, engraved portrait frontispiece by Ravenet after Echardt; vol. II, 256 leaves; vol. III, 254 leaves, the last with the publishers’ advertisement, folded engraved table; vol. IV,
256 leaves, 23 plates, full-page and folded, by J. Mynde, engravings in the text; many leaves dampstained throughout the 4 volumes.
Old calf, repaired, vol. I rebacked; backs scorched. Initialled by Jefferson at sig. I and T in each volume.
Jefferson’s dated and undated catalogue both call for an edition in 5 vol. 8vo. He ordered such an edition from
Van Damme, “vol. 2. pa. 72” of his catalogue, on March 23, 1788. The quarto edition was the only one sold to Congress in 1815, and is correctly entered
in the 1815 catalogue.
In a letter to John Adams, dated from Monticello on August 22, 1813, Jefferson wrote: “
. . . You are right in supposing, in one of yours, that I had not read much of Priestley’s
Predestination, his
No-soul system, or his controversy with Horsley. but I have read his
Corruptions of Christianity, &
Early opinions of Jesus, over and over again; and I rest on them, and on Middleton’s writings, especially his letters from Rome, & to Waterland,
as the basis of my own faith. these writings have never been answered, nor can be answered, by quoting historical proofs,
as they have done. for these facts therefore I cling to their learning, so much superior to my own . . .
”
For a note on Middleton see no. 74.
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71
Priestley’s history of the corruptions of christianity.
2. v.
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 67. no. 95, as above.
1831 Catalogue, page 121. no. J. 165, as above, Birmingham, 1793.
PRIESTLEY,
Joseph.
An History of the Corruptions of Christianity, in
two volumes. By Joseph Priestley, LL.D. F.R.S. The
Second Edition . . . Vol. I [-II].
Birmingham: Printed by
J. Thompson, for
J. Johnson,
London,
1793.
BR145 .P85
2 vol. 8vo. Vol. I, 216 + 1 leaves, collating in eights; vol. II, 252 + 1 leaves; the additional leaf at the end of each volume
for the Errata.
Fulton and Peters, page 12: “London [2nd. ed.].”
Jefferson’s copy of this work is no longer in the Library of Congress. It was possibly the copy, for which there are cards
in the Library of Congress catalogues, reported missing in 1935.
Jefferson had read this book before April 25, 1803, on which date he wrote to his daughter Martha, sending her a copy of his
Syllabus: “
. . . I have written to Philadelphia for Doct
r. Priestly’s history of the corruptions of Christianity, which I will send you, & recommend to an attentive perusal, because
it establishes the groundwork of my view of this subject . . .
”
In June 1804 Jefferson sent a copy of the work to Henry Fry, of Madison County, Virginia, and on June 17 wrote to him: “
. . . the work of D
r. Priestly which I sent you has always been a favorite of mine. I consider the doctrines of Jesus as delivered by himself
to contain the outlines of the sublimest system of morality that has ever been taught but I hold in the most profound detestation
and execration the corruptions of it which have been invented by priestcraft and established by kingcraft constituting a conspiracy
of church and state against the civil and religious liberties of mankind . . .
”
For Jefferson on this book see the previous entry. This book is included in many of his lists of recommended reading.
The first edition of this work was published in Birmingham in 1782.
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