“
Your favor of the 9
th. is recieved, & with it the copy of D
r. Priestley’s Memoirs, for which I return you many thanks. I shall read them with great pleasure, as I revered the character
of no man living more than his . . .
”
The work itself contains references to the friendship between Priestley and Jefferson. In volume I, page 208, occurs the passage:
For the last four years of his life he lived under an administration, the principles and practice of which he perfectly approved,
and with Mr. Jefferson, the head of that administration, he frequently corresponded, and they had for each other a mutual
regard and esteem.
A similar statement occurs in volume II, page 366:
Priestley had the satisfaction to live long enough to see a government whose theory was in his opinion near perfection, administered
under the auspices of his friend Mr. Jefferson in a manner that no republican could disapprove.
Joseph Priestley, 1733-1804. These Memoirs were written in Birmingham, England, and survived the destruction of the author’s papers subsequent
to the celebrations commemorating the fall of the Bastille.
Joseph Priestley, 1768-1833, Priestley’s son, English writer.
Thomas Cooper, 1759-1840, natural philosopher, lawyer and politician was born in England, but followed his friend Priestley to America
in 1794. Works by him will be found in other chapters.
William Christie, 1748-1823, Scottish Unitarian, a friend of Priestley, emigrated to America in 1795.
[390]
70
Cumberland’s memoirs.
8
vo.
1732-1805.
1815 Catalogue, page 18. no. 56, Cumberland’s Memoirs, 1732-1805, 8vo.
CUMBERLAND,
Richard.
Memoirs of Richard Cumberland. Written by Himself. Containing an Account of his Life and Writings, interspersed with Anecdotes and Characters of several
of the most Distinguished Persons of his Time, with whom he has had intercourse and connexion.
Philadelphia: [Printed by
Robert Carr] Published by
Samuel F. Bradford;
Brisban and Brannan,
New York; and
E. Morford,
Charleston,
1806.
8vo. in fours. 179 leaves: [ ]
1, B-Z, Aa-Yy
4, Zz
2.
This edition not in Lowndes.
Jefferson’s copy was bound by
Milligan on May 2, 1808, price $2.00. He ordered a copy (with other books) from William Duane, in a letter dated from Washington October
14, 1807, with the instruction: “
. . . decent English editions in 8
vo. or 12
mo. the American editions of these books are too indifferent to be read.
”
On December 5 he received a letter from Duane reading in part: “. . . Cumberlands work is to have a second volume; there is no English edition to be had here but in quarto, which I did not
take, knowing that you prefer 8vos . . .”
Richard Cumberland, 1732-1811, English dramatist, was a great-grandson of Richard Cumberland, Bishop of Peterborough, the editor of Sanchoniatho
(see no. 5). He was the Sir Fretful Plagiary of Sheridan’s
The Critic
. The first edition of the Memoirs was published in London, 1806, in 4to, with an Appendix in 1807.
[391]
71
Lediard’s naval history of England.
2. v.
fol. 1066-1734.
1815 Catalogue, page 19. no. 100, as above.
LEDIARD
, Thomas.
The Naval History of England, in all its Branches; from the Norman Conquest in the Year 1066. to the Conclusion of 1734 .
. . By Thomas Lediard, Gent. Late Secretary to His Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary in Lower Germany. In
Two Volumes.
London: Printed for
John Wilcox, and
Olive Payne,
1735.
DA70 .L47
