Essays upon several subjects concerning British antiquities.
Edinburgh: printed for A. Kinkaid, 1747. 8vo, pp. [4], 217, [3]; contemporary calf, red morocco label, gilt-decorated spine; joints cracked, else very good. Lord Kames (1696-1782) was a Scottish judge and "a country gentleman of small fortune É He was an ingenious writer, with a considerable knowledge of law and a great taste for metaphysics É Dr. Johnson formed a poor opinion of him. When Boswell, boasting of the advancement of literature in Scotland, exclaimed, 'But, sir, we have Lord Kames,' Johnson replied, 'You have Lord Kames. Keep him, ha, ha, ha! We don't envy you him.' É" (DNB). Writing to Kames in June, 1747, David Hume said of this work that he had read the essays "with great Satisfaction, the Reasonings are solid, the Conjectures ingenious É the whole is instructive. The Stile is also very good; correct É nervous É very pureÉ." Home's subjects include the introduction of feudal law into Scotland; Constitution of Parliament; Honor & Dignity; and another. Item #23248
Price: $450.00
