Vol. III and IV.
Vie de Jeanne de Saint Remy de Valois, comtesse de la Motte.
Paris,
1792.
(no. 227.)
Vol. V.
Evidence and Proceedings upon the Charges preferred against the Duke of York, in 1809.
London,
1809.
(no. 409.)
Vol. VI.
Edwards’ genuine edition of “The Book”; or the Proceedings and Correspondence upon the Inquiry into the Conduct of Her Royal
Highness the Princess of Wales, in 1806.
Brooklyn,
1813.
(no. 410.)
On October 17, 1814, during the negotiations for the sale of his library to Congress, Jefferson wrote from Monticello to Milligan
at Georgetown: “
. . . I send to the care of m(
~r
)
Gray of Fredericksbg. a packet of 6. vols, which though made up of 4. different works, I wish to have bound as one work in
6. vols, to be labelled on the back ‘the Book of Kings.’ the 1
st. and 2
d. vols will be composed of the Memoirs of Bareuth, the binding to remain as it is, only changing the label. the Memoirs of
Mad
e. La Motte will make the 3
d. and 4
th. vols, pared down to the size of the first & bound uniform with them. M
rs. Clarke’s will be the 5
th. vol. pared & bound as before, and ‘the Book’ will make the 6
th. which to be uniform in size with the rest must perhaps be left with it’s present rough edges. pray do it immediately and
return it by the stage that they may be replaced on their shelves should Congress take my library . . .
”
Milligan’s bill for this work was presented on November 17: “
To Binding & lettering of the ‘Book of Kings.’ $5.00.
An interesting commentary on this book is to be found in a letter from George Ticknor, written from Charlottesville on February
7, 1815, describing his visit to Monticello. In his description of Jefferson’s library, Ticknor wrote: “Perhaps the most curious single specimen--or, at least, the most characteristic of the man and expressive of his hatred of
royalty--was a collection which he had bound up in six volumes, and lettered “The Book of Kings,” consisting of the “Memoires
de la Princesse de Bareith,” two volumes; “Les Memoires de la Comtesse de la Motte,” two volumes; the “Trial of the Duke of
York,” one volume; and “
The Book,” one volume. These documents of regal scandal seemed to be favorites with the philosopher, who pointed them out to me with
a satisfaction somewhat inconsistent with the measured gravity he claims in relation to such subjects generally.”
George Ticknor, 1791-1871, was born in Boston. From 1815 to 1819 he was in Europe, where he performed a large number of commissions for Jefferson and was in frequent correspondence with him on his book purchases. After his return to the United States in 1819 he became professor of modern languages and belles lettres at Harvard College. He was one of the most influential persons in shaping the policy of the Boston Public Library. On June 10, 1815, in a letter to John Adams, Jefferson wrote: ...I thank you for making known to me mr Ticknor & mr Gray. they are fine young men indeed, and if Massachusetts can raise a few more, it is probable she would be better counselled as to social rights and social duties. mr Ticknor is particularly the best bibliographer I have met with, and very kindly and opportunely offered me the means of reprocuring some part of the literary treasures which I have ceded to Congress to replace the devastations of British Vandalism at Washington..."
Francis Calley Gray 1790-1856, was a fellow of Harvard College, which benefited considerably from his will.
[411]
90
Dugdale’s baronage.
fol.
1815 Catalogue, page 18. no. 102, as above.
DUGDALE,
Sir William.
The Baronage of England, or, An Historical Account of the Lives and most Memorable Actions, of our English Nobility in the
Saxons time, to the Norman Conquest; and from thence, of those who had their rise before the end of King Henry the Third’s
Reign Deduced from Publick Records, Antient Historians, and other Authorities, by William Dugdale Norroy King of Arms . . . Tome the First [-Third].
London: Printed by
Tho. Newcomb, for
Abel Roper,
John Martin and
Henry Herringman,
1675,
6.
CS421 .A2 D8
First Edition. 3 vol. in 2. Folio. vol. I, 485 leaves; vol. II, and III, with continuous pagination and signatures 224 leaves;
folded genealogical tables, 2 titles in red and black; that for vol. III, in black only, is on Cc
i.
Lowndes II, 691.
Hazlitt IV, 117, [punct.
sic]
STC D2480.
Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature II, 864.
Sir William Dugdale, 1605-1686, Garter King-of-arms. The Library of Congress catalogues subsequent to that of 1815 and before that of 1864 call
for an edition of 1775-’76, which is evidently a misprint as the work was never reprinted.
[412]
