An Estimate of the Manners and Principles of the Times.

£600 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

Brown’s most successful work. It is a vigorous satire on the “vain, luxurious and selfish effeminacy of England’s higher ranks, in the wake of the loss of Minorca to the French at the opening of the Seven Years’ War” (ODNB). The book was highly influential in changing the English attitude towards the Seven Years War. In the space of thirteen months it was published in eight London editions, three Dublin editions, editions in Belfast and Boston, and two French editions in The Hague. This work gave Brown his soubriquet, “Estimate”. As Cowper says ‘The inestimable estimate of Brown rose like a paper kite and charmed the town.’ Eddy, John Brown 42. A fine copy, with the leaf of advertisments at the end. Page 145 is misnumbered 154. Has a few spots of foxing throughout, but the pages remain in excellent condition.

• Binding: Hardcover

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