THELWALL

Presumably First Edition. Pp.[1] Title-45[3], final 3pp., list of books printed for J. Debrett, disbound, foxed, minor damage and staining, fair condition. It appears to be an investigation of the possibly seditious activities of The Society for Constitutional Information and The London Corresponding Society (and related). Note: A. "The Society for Constitutional Information was a British activist group founded in 1780 by Major John Cartwright, to promote parliamentary reform. The Society flourished until 1783, but thereafter made little headway.

4pp., 4to. On two loose leaves of Whatman paper, each watermarked 1827. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The document begins with the following note, dated and signed by Roby: 'The following ballad from my forthcoming "Traditions of Lancashire," though not of much value in itself, may yet acquire some, from its connexion with, and introduction into Mrs. Thelwall's elegant volume of Scraps.' (The implication that the two leaves have been removed from Mrs Thelwall's album is supported by pagination from 12 to 15.) Sixty-four lines, divided into sixteen four-line stanzas.