Renard

1792 · 016736 — London: Published by the Defendant. Printed for J. Johnson 1792. FIRST EDITION first printing. Full early 20th century black cloth with red calf leather label on the spine with gilt lettering the label is worn and chipped along the edge. New endpapers. Title page adhearded to the endpaper. No half title not issued. Issued on laid paper a few pages have marginal light stain spots. Otherwise very clean. No previous owner's names not exlibrary. Overall in VERY GOOD condition. A good gift. John Horne Tooke June 25 1736 – March 18 1812 was an English politician and philologist. Born John Horne he adopted the name Tooke in 1782 after being designated heir to the estate of a rich friend William Tooke. He became 1760 an Anglican priest but soon abandoned his clerical duties for politics. He was a strong supporter of John Wilkes until 1771 when he broke with him and founded the Constitutional Society to promote parliamentary reform and support for the American colonists. He was fined and imprisoned 1778 for attempting to raise funds to aid the victims of the government "murder" at Lexington and Concord. In 1794 in a period of repression of radical agitation Tooke was tried for treason but acquitted. In 1801 he was elected to Parliament but in the same year the government passed an act specifically directed against him that disqualified clergy from sitting in the House of Commons. Tooke's later years were devoted to literary pursuits. His Epea Pteroenta or the Diversions of Purley 1786-1805 was an early attempt at scientific language study. . First Edition. Full Cloth. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Hardcover. Published by the Defendant. Printed for J. Johnson Hardcover