The Elements of the Art of Packing, as applied to Special Juries, particularly in cases of libel law.

London, Effingham Wilson, 1821.

8vo, pp. [iv], vii, [1] blank, 269, [1] colophon, [2] publisher’s advertisments; some early pencil marginalia and side-lining; occasional mild offsetting and spotting, but still a good copy, uncut in contemporary drab boards, neatly rebacked, corners worn.

£250

Approximately:
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First published edition, originally printed in 1810, of Bentham’s criticism of English libel law, which he had always detested and which more than once stood in the way of the free publication of his opinions. When the work was written, the law’s injustice had recently been made obvious in a series of prosecutions for libelling the Duke of York. The Art of Packing contains many bitter animadversions on the Judges, and Romilly, who read the manuscript, warned Bentham that the attorney-general would be certain to prosecute both author and publisher under the very law the work condemns. Bentham accepted Romilly’s advice not to sell it openly, though he gave away copies to his friends.

The Advertisement to the present edition states: ‘In regard to the Author, all that need be said is – that it was not by him that it was … kept back; and that it is not by him, or at his instance, that it is now put forth. If, on either accounts, it were desirable that the causes of its being thus long withheld should be brought to view, those causes would afford a striking illustration of the baneful influence of the principles and practices it is employed in unveiling, and presenting in their true colours.’

Chuo E1-2 (lacking the advertisment leaf); Everett, p. 534; Goldsmiths’ 23350; see Muirhead, p. 18; not in Kress.

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[SCOTLAND.]

Seventeen pamphlets relating mostly to legal cases in Scotland.

An interesting sammelband relating largely to Scottish legal cases, containing 12 items unrecorded on ESTC, COPAC and OCLC. The cases include those of a Kilbagie distiller convicted of bribery; of Sir William Erskine of Torrie against a London banking house; of a St Andrews minister convicted of perjury; of a forged bill presented at the counting house of Sir William Forbes; and of an Aberdeen-based troupe of musicians.

Contents:

1. [BREBNER, John.] Information for John Brebner late merchant of Halifax, now residing in Aberdeen, defender and pursuer, against William Sibbald merchant in Leith, pursuer and defender. Lord Hailes Reporter. [Edinburgh], 12 July 1785.
pp. 33, [1], 16; side notes slightly trimmed, short closed tear to last leaf (without loss), last page dusty. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC. The defendant claiming to have been duped in business conducted in North America and the West Indies.

2. [STEIN, James.] George, &c. Forasmuchas it is humbly meaned and complained unto us, by our right trusty Ilay Campbell, Esq; our advocate for our interest, upon James Stein distiller at Kilbagie ... that whereas, by the laws of this realm, bribery and corruption, especially when practiced by a distiller ... [Edinburgh, 1785].
pp. 8. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC. Stein found guilty of attempted bribery.

3. [STEIN, James.] Information for Ilay Campbell, Esq; his majesty’s advocate of Scotland against James Stein distiller at Kilbagie. [Edinburgh], 23 September 1786.

pp. 16. Not on ESTC; 1 copy on OCLC (BL).

4. [STEIN, James.] Clauses in the statutes referred to in the information for James Stein, under the different heads bribery, forgery, and perjury. [Edinburgh, 1786].

pp. 15, [1 blank]. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC.

5. [STEIN, James.] Information for James Stein, distiller at Kilbeggie; against Ilay Campbell, Esq; his majesty’s advocate of Scotland. [Edinburgh], 31 October 1786.

pp. [2], 33, [1 blank]; small stain to title, small loss to blank margin of F1. Not on ESTC; 1 copy on OCLC (BL).

6. [ERSKINE, William.] Information for Robert, Henry, George, and Andrew-Berkley Drummond, bankers in London, defenders; against Sir William Erskine, and others, creditors of Hugh and Archibald Seton, pursuers. To be reported to Lord Swinton. [Edinburgh], 20 April 1787.

pp. 29, [1 blank]; small closed marginal tear to D1. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC.

7. [ERSKINE, William.] Information for Sir William Erskine of Torry, and for the other creditors of Hugh Seton of Touch, Esq; and of Archibald Seton, Esq; his eldest son, pursuers; against Hugh Powel ... and Robert, Henry, George and Andrew-Berkley Drummond ... London, bankers, defenders. To be reported by Lord Swinton. [Edinburgh], 20 April 1787.

pp. 39, [1 blank]. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC.

8. [ERSKINE, William.] Report and exhibits in the process Sir William Erskine, &c. against Robert, Henry, &c. Drummonds, Esqrs. [Edinburgh, 1787].

pp. [2], 75, [1 blank]; last page dusty. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC.

9. [LESLIE, William.] Criminal letters, against the reverend Mr William Leslie. [Edinburgh, 1787].
pp. 8; first page dusty. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC. Leslie was found guilty of perjury.

10. [LESLIE, William.] Information for the rev. Mr William Leslie, minister of the parish of St Andrews and Longbride, pannel; against Alexander Penrose-Cumming of Altyre, Esq; with concourse of his majesty’s advocate, prosecutor. [Edinburgh], 15 January 1787.
pp. 28; light spotting. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC.

11. [GRAHAM, Mary.] June 12, 1772. Unto the right honourable the Lords of Council and Session, the petition of Mary Graham, relict of John Grinlay, and John Graham of Redfoord, her nephew. [Edinburgh], 12 June 1772.

pp. 8; imperfect, wanting part of leaf B2 and text thereafter; dusty. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC.

12. [FORBES, William.] Unto the right honourable, the Lords of Council and Session, the petition of Sir William Forbes, James Hunter, and Company, bankers in Edinburgh. [Edinburgh], 29 February 1788.

pp. 21, [1 blank]. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC.

13. [BRIERLY, Joseph.] Memorial for Joseph Brierly and George-Stevens Sutherland, musicians, suspenders; against George Forbes, procurator-fiscal of the borough of Aberdeen, charger. Bill of suspension. Lord Henderland reporter. [Edinburgh], 8 March 1787.

pp. 12, 6. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC.

14. [FRASER, Alexander.] Articles and conditions relative to the tacks of Alexander Fraser, Esq; of Strichen. [Aberdeen?, 1781?].

pp. 14. ESTC, COPAC and OCLC show 1 copy only, at Aberdeen University.

15. [DOCKYARDS.] Copy of a letter from the right honourable Lord Sydney ... to his grace the Duke of Richmond ... appointing his grace president of the board of land and sea officers for investigating ... his majesty’s dock yards at Portsmouth and Plymouth ... [London], 1786.

pp. 19, [1 blank]; pages folded to fit in volume. ESTC T128818 (5 copies).

16. [DOCKYARDS.] Copy of an estimate of the expense of fortifying his majesty’s dock yards at Portsmouth and Plymouth, by the committee of engineers at the Tower ... [London], 1786.

pp. 6, [2]; pages folded to fit in volume. Not on ESTC, COPAC or OCLC.

17. Case of the dean and faculty of advocates, clerks to his majesty’s signet, and other members of the College of Justice, in Scotland. [Edinburgh], 1786.

pp. 4. Not on ESTC; OCLC shows 1 copy at the University of California.

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