Anno Regni Georgii Regis Magnae Britanniae, Franciae, & Hiberniae, Primo
London: John Baskett, 1714. Parliament session acts. 1-24, [2], 207-477p, [6]. Contemporary paneled calf rebacked with a new spine. Includes the scarce Riot Act of 1714. From the Library of John Archibald, Lord Murray (1779 - 1859) with his arms on the front and rear boards. A series of Parliament Acts starting at the first day off August 1714 in the year of the Reign of King George I after the death of Queen Anne complete with a table of statues. The Riot Act was an unusual construct. "While the Constitution was a vague concept all were agreed that its main justification was individual liberty. But and probably more realistically, since the parliament made the law, his liberty consisted in doing anything which parliament considered respectable or in accordance of the law as they interpreted it. If a dispute was likely to become serious, the Riot Act of 1715 gave the magistrates the right to define a riot, and having defined it to disperse it with force". See Cambridge Modern History Vol VII p264. The act is also famous for having created the expression "to read the Riot Act" John Archibald, Lord Murray (1779 - 1859) was one of the original editors of "Edinburgh Review" and a friend of Sir Walter Scott. He is also believed to be Magnus Lucullus Esq in John Hill Burton's The Book Hunter p40 where he is described as a "scholar and a ripe and good one".,"his library is the sphere in which his disposition for the complete and magnificent has most profoundly developed itself". "He must have the most complete editions, whether common or rare". His library was sold by Dowells & Lyon in Edinburgh 18 February 1862. A small part is at the National Library of Scotland, where it forms the collection with the shelfmark `Lord Murray'. ESTC N53655, OCLC 222780368. Only 7 copies recorded in Worldcat. Scattered foxing and small ink stain on page 1 otherwise internally clean. Corners bumped and worn. A well-preserved copy with an important Act and provenance. Item #10416
Price: $2,900.00