An attractive large 4to late 18th century half leather sammelband binding of pamphlets, largely related to Scottish theology, the translation of Scripture, and the care of orphans and widows of the Scottish Clergy.
The Steuart volume on economics in India is quite scarce and worth far more than our asking price, but we don't have the heart to disassemble the volume.
The pastedown bears the attractive bookplate of James Meek D. D. Meek [1740-1810], was the descendent of a Covenanting family who had various members imprisoned for their allegiance to the National Covenant. He graduated Glasgow University and became minister at Cambuslang until his death, seat of the great revival under George Whitefield.
Meek was a prominent divine in the Church of Scotland and served as moderator in 1795.
1. Jebb, John. A Short Account of Theological Lectures, Now Reading at Cambridge, to which is added, a New Harmony of the Gospels. Cambridge, J. Archdeacon Printer to the University; for T. & J. Merrill in Cambridge. 1770. 40 + 2pp.
Signed by Rev. John Ross, Minister at Soulseat [near Wigtown], Scotland, August 24, 1772. A rather unusual work by Jebb defending his lectureship at Cambridge. He was a leading advocate for religious tolerance and supported the move to see Cambridge waive subscription to the 39 articles, etc., He was, by some, considered far too liberal. In the present work, he defends his view of the Gospels and the resultant theology.
2. Callander, John. Essay Towards a Literal English Version of the New Testament, in the Epistle of the Apostle Paul Directed to the Ephesians. Glasgow. Printed by Andrew Foulis, Printer to the University, 1779. First Edition. 32pp.
A scarce and fascinating early attempt at something more like a truly rigid Greek to English translation, as opposed to, ironically, the more idiomatic King James Version, or Authorized Translation.
3. Steuart, Sir James [1713-1780]. A Collection of Miscellanies Relative to Coinage in India. Privately Printed. 1772. 73pp.
This the first edition, apparently the same as that mentioned as #5521 in Higgs' Bibliography of Economics and suggested as privately printed. It appears to have been issued with a title as it appears both there and here. Apparently this was compiled by Sir James Steuart as a data basis for his latter, The Principles of Money Applied to the Present State of the Coin of Bengal: Being an Inquiry into the Methods to be Used for Correcting the Defects of the Present Currency, for Stopping the Drains which Carry off the coin, and for Extending Circulation by the Means of Paper-credit in the same year.
The latter work, less scarce than the present, is an important work of 18th century economics. Steuart spent his middle years on the Continent where he became acquainted with Mercier de la Rivière, Montesquieu and Mirabeau, and observed at first hand the economic policies of France, Italy, Germany and Spain. His best-known work, An Enquiry into the Principles of Political Economy, was published in London in 1767. After receiving a royal pardon for treason in 1771, Steuart's name was brought to the attention of the East India Company, as a result of which he "was invited to comment upon the currency problems in Bengal. He stayed in London for the three months (May to July) it needed to prepare the report, which falls into three parts: on coinage, the causes of the scarcity of coin, and methods for expanding paper credit. The essay was published in 1772 as the Principles of Money Applied to the State of the Coin in Bengal"(ODNB). The directors called for Steuart's report at a time when "there was a feeling that Bengal was too much for the Company to handle... in 1772 the Company was on the verge of bankruptcy. The millionaire 'Nabobs', grown fat in its service, would not come to its aid. The Company was obliged to seek a loan from the Government" (Gardner, The East India Company, p. 105).
Peter Harrington has at present a copy available for sale at GBP 4.500.00
4. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 25th day of May 1780.15pp.
5. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 22d day of May 1783.17pp.
6. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 20th day of May 1784.17pp.
7. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 19th day of May 1785.16pp.
8. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 18th day of May 1786.17pp.
9. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 17th day of May 1787.16pp.
10. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 22d day of May 1788.17pp.
11. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 21st day of May 1789.19pp.
12. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 20th day of May 1790.17pp.
13. Report of the Trustees for managing the Fund established for a provision for the Widows and Children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, &c. to the General Assembly of the said Church, held at Edinburgh the 19th day of May 1791.18pp.