[Observations made at the Philosophical Society of London in 1815] Autograph Letter Signed "Thos Tucker" to Thos Winkworth (from address panel)

Three pages, 4to, fold marks, some chipping and closed tears, mainly discreetly repaired, but text complete and clear. He is responding to Winkworth's request for "an outline of the observations I had the honour to address to the PSL [Philosophical Society of London] on thursday last but fear [...]" Points made as follows. "Ist All philosophers agree that man is characterized as an improveable being [...] 2nd THere is no science that is not capabale of additions no Art that [...] 3rd. Nations have risen progressively from barbarism to civility [...] Some have excelled in military glory; others in commercial opulence. 4th The three principal circumstances in the history of Nations are, the Nature of their Government [...] 5th There are four kinds of improvement [...] 6th Egypt and the Asiatics deficient in their political Institutions [...]" And on till No. 15, points including Athens, Sparta, Rome, Moral physical and moral improvement, variant areas of improvement among nations, Science vs. Arts bias, impact of printing, progress of various kinds best seen in history, last[point (15th) expanded to "It appears from a review of the past with a comparison of the present that it is the nature of Man to improve his inventions & discoveries in the Arts and Sciences - (morals & politics included) and as his happiness is inseparab;ly connected with them, their improvement must be an improvement of his happiness also." He concludes that this summary is the 'best of [his] recollections, contains the substance of all that I advanced [...]" Note: Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a member at much this time, and delivered lectures in 1881 on the premises of the Philosophical Society of London (founded 1810).